el, els

Use the definite article when the person or thing is identified in context: el llibre that both speakers can recognize, or els llibres already under discussion. Masculine does not necessarily mean male; el carrer and el problema are grammatically masculine objects or ideas.

Before a vowel sound or silent h, singular el usually becomes l': l'amic, l'hotel. Plural els remains intact: els amics. Consonantal initial i blocks the usual singular elision, as in el iogurt.

The masculine articles form contractions with a, de and per: al/als, del/dels and pel/pels. If the singular article has already elided, keep the preposition separate: a l'hotel. Do not add an apostrophe to els.