The main uses of uno and un
We use un Artículos indefinidos:
- Before masculine singular nouns.
Javier Bardem es un actor muy famoso.
Javier Bardem is a very famous actor.
Necesito un teléfono nuevo.
I need a new phone.
- Before feminine singular nouns beginning with a stressed a- or ha-.
Tomaré un agua con gas.
I'll have a sparkling water.
Tengo un hambre horrible.
I'm terribly hungry (literally "I have a horrible hunger").
We use uno:
- To replace a masculine singular noun that has already been mentioned or is implicit.
Voy a tomar un café, ¿quieres uno? (uno = un café).
I'm going to have a coffee – do you want one? (one = a coffee)
- Before the preposition de (of) to refer to a member of a set/group or to a date.
Él es uno de mis hermanos.
He is one of my brothers.
Nos vamos de vacaciones el uno de agosto.
We're off on vacation on the first of August.
- After a masculine singular noun.
Comienzo a trabajar el día uno del próximo mes.
I start work on the first day (literally "the day one") of next month.
- Before a verb in the 3rd person singular to make a generalization or express an opinion in a neutral way.
Uno ya no sabe qué pensar.
One doesn't know what to think.
We use unos (some, a few):
- Before masculine plural nouns.
El próximo mes tengo unos días de vacaciones.
Next month I have a few days' vacation.
- To replace a masculine plural noun that has already been mentioned or is implicit.
Hay muchos niños en el parque; unos gritan más que otros (unos = algunos niños).
There are lots of children at the park; some yell more than others (some = some children).
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