Indefinite Articles in Catalan

Overview

Indefinite articles in Catalan correspond to "a/an" and "some" in English. They come in four forms that match the gender and number of the noun: un (masculine singular), una (feminine singular), uns (masculine plural), and unes (feminine plural). These are among the very first words you need at the A1 level.

While English only has singular indefinite articles ("a" and "an"), Catalan has plural forms too. Uns and unes translate roughly as "some" or "a few." This means Catalan can express the idea of an unspecified quantity more precisely than English in many contexts.

There is also an elision rule to be aware of: before a feminine noun starting with unstressed a- or ha-, una can become un' in older or literary Catalan, though modern standard usage tends to keep una in most cases.

How It Works

Gender	Singular	Plural
Masculine	un	uns
Feminine	una	unes

When to use indefinite articles:

• Introducing something for the first time: Tinc un gat. (I have a cat.)
• Referring to one of many: Vull una poma. (I want an apple.)
• Expressing "some" with plurals: Hi ha uns llibres a la taula. (There are some books on the table.)

When NOT to use them (unlike English):

• With professions after ser: Sóc metge. (I am a doctor.) — no article
• After sense (without): sense paraules (without words)

Examples in Context

Catalan	English	Note
un gat	a cat	Masculine singular
una dona	a woman	Feminine singular
uns amics	some friends (m)	Masculine plural
unes cases	some houses	Feminine plural
Tinc un germà.	I have a brother.	Introducing new information
Hi ha una farmàcia aquí a prop?	Is there a pharmacy nearby?	Asking about existence
He comprat uns pantalons.	I bought some trousers.	Plural indefinite
Vull unes galetes.	I want some biscuits.	Feminine plural
És un bon restaurant.	It is a good restaurant.	With adjective
Necessito un moment.	I need a moment.	Abstract use

Common Mistakes

Using the article with professions

• Wrong: Sóc un metge.
• Right: Sóc metge.
• Why: In Catalan, professions after ser do not take an indefinite article, unless qualified by an adjective: Sóc un bon metge (I am a good doctor).

Forgetting the plural forms

• Wrong: Hi ha cafès a la taula. (meaning "some coffees")
• Better: Hi ha uns cafès a la taula.
• Why: When you want to convey "some" or "a few," use uns/unes.

Confusing un (article) with un (number)

• Ambiguous: Tinc un gat. (I have a cat / I have one cat.)
• Clear: Tinc un gat. (context usually clarifies)
• Why: The number "one" and the indefinite article are identical in form. Context or emphasis distinguishes them.

Practice Tips

1. When describing people and their professions, practice dropping the article: "Sóc estudiant," "Ets professor," "Ella és advocada." This differs from English and needs conscious practice.
2. Try translating short English descriptions using indefinite articles and check whether Catalan would use un/una or omit the article entirely. This builds awareness of the differences.

Related Concepts

• Gender and Number of Nouns — needed to choose the correct article form
• Definite Articles — the corresponding definite forms (el, la, els, les)