del

word

/ˈdɛl/
del
/ˈdɛl/
del

Definition

In Spanish, 'del' is the contraction of 'de' and 'el'. It usually means 'of the' or 'from the' before a masculine singular noun.

Usage & Nuances

Use 'del' instead of 'de el' in standard Spanish. Do not contract before a proper noun with 'El' as part of the name, such as 'de El Salvador'. Very common in phrases like 'el libro del profesor' and 'vengo del mercado'.

Example Sentences

In Spanish, del means 'of the' or 'from the'.

basic

The phrase 'del libro' uses del before a masculine noun.

basic

You say del, not 'de el', in most cases.

basic

I always forget when Spanish uses del and when it uses 'de la'.

natural

Our teacher said del is one of the first contractions we should memorize.

natural

Once you learn del, Spanish sentences start to sound more natural.

natural