una
/ˈuna/
The Spanish phrase una means una (phrase).
Which one should you use?
Use un instead of una when the noun being referred to is masculine.
How does it change in a sentence?
una is the feminine singular indefinite article, used before feminine singular nouns. The plural form of una is unas, which translates to 'some' when used with feminine plural nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈuna/
Did you know?
- The phrase una is used in the common idiom de una, which in some Latin American countries means 'right away' or 'immediately'.
- The word una shares the same Proto-Indo-European ancestor as the English word 'one'.
- Using una before a noun can sometimes indicate an approximate quantity, such as una hora meaning 'about an hour' rather than exactly sixty minutes.
Examples in context
- Una manzanaAn apple
- Necesito unoI need one
- Quiero una sola rebanada de pastelI want only one slice of cake
- Prefiero una sola chuletaI prefer only one pork chop
- Es una única oportunidadIt's a unique opportunity
- Tengo una idea muy buena.I have a very good idea.
- ¿Me das una manzana, por favor?Can you give me an apple, please?
- Ella compró una casa nueva.She bought a new house.
Example conversation
Javier and Lucía are in a kitchen looking for food.
- JavierLucía, ¿hay una pera en la mesa?Lucía, is there a pear on the table?
- LucíaNo, pero tengo una naranja.No, but I have an orange.
- JavierPerfecto, gracias por la fruta.Perfect, thanks for the fruit.
- LucíaDe nada, Javier.You're welcome, Javier.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry una, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries una, CC BY-SA 4.0.
