Pitman's Commercial Spanish Grammar (2nd ed.)

by C. A. Toledano

APPENDIX I

PRINCIPAL EXCEPTIONS TO THE RULE ON SPANISH GENDER BY TERMINATION

1. Words of Greek etymology ending in ma—

El dilema (the dilemma)
El diploma (the diploma)
El epigrama (the epigram)
El problema (the problem)
El síntoma (the symptom)
El telegrama (the telegram)

etc., etc.

But La amalgama (the amalgamation)
La diadema (the diadem)
La estratagema (the stratagem)
La proclama (the proclamation)

2. Most of the compound nouns (very few in number)—

El cortaplumas (the penknife)
El guardacosta (the coasting-vessel)
El paraguas (the umbrella)
El tirabala (the popgun)

3. El día (the day)

El Etna (Etna (volcano))
El mapa (the map)
El sofá (the sofa)
El Volga [210] (the Volga)
And all words ending in accented a.