a + el = al

Contraction of a and El

Level 1

A + el becomes al, and a + els becomes als.

How It Works

When the preposition a meets an ordinary masculine definite article, join them into one word. This happens with destinations, locations and recipients: al cinema, al carrer, als veïns.

Before a vowel or silent h, first check elision: a l'amic and a l'hotel do not become al amic or al hotel. The plural still contracts because els never elides: als amics. Feminine articles remain separate: a la plaça, a les escoles.

The article inside a Catalan place name normally follows the contraction rule: al Vendrell. Articles that belong to titles are treated separately from ordinary place-name articles; capitalization alone is not a blanket reason to block a contraction.

Examples (3)

  1. Anem al cinema.

    We are going to the cinema.

  2. Escric als veïns.

    I am writing to the neighbors.

  3. Porta-ho a l'hotel.

    Take it to the hotel.

How It Connects

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a + el = alLevel 1Contraction of a and El

Learn This First

Identify masculine singular and plural articles.

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Words in This Pattern