Otro is a simple word in Spanish that means "other" or "another." It looks and sounds similar to its English equivalent, which makes it easy to recognize. However, this similarity often leads to a common mistake: adding an article where it doesn't belong.

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The Otro Mistake: Why Un Otro and Una Otra Are Wrong

Many Spanish learners make this error: they say un otro or una otra when they want to say "another."

Here's an example. How do you say "I'll have another beer" in Spanish?

The correct answer is: Tomaré otra cerveza. (I'll have another beer.)

❌ Wrong: Tomaré una otra cerveza.

✅ Correct: Tomaré otra cerveza.

Why is una otra wrong? Because otro/otra already means "another" in Spanish. It's a complete word on its own that doesn't need an article in front of it. Saying una otra would be like saying "an another" in English—you're adding an extra article that doesn't belong there..

How Otro Works in Spanish: The Simple Rule

📌 The key is simple: in Spanish, otro/otra = another. No article needed.

When you want to say "another" in English, you use one word: "another." The same goes for Spanish—you only need otro or otra. Don't add un or una before it.

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When to Use Articles with Otro in Spanish

In an episode of the documentary series 75 minutos, we find the following clip:

Yo tengo lo que me pertenece a la de... de la custodia: un fin de semana sí y otro no.

I have what belongs to me to the... from the custody: one weekend yes and the other, no.

Captions 13-14, 75 minutos - Del campo a la mesa - Part 17

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Notice how otro stands alone without any article before it. There's one important exception: you CAN use a definite article (el/la) before otro when you need to say "the other" instead of just "another." Compare these two:

Otro día = "Another day" (any other day)

El otro día = "The other day" (that specific other day)

The definite article (el/la) helps us point to a specific "other" thing, not just any other thing. So, if you add an article before otro(a), make sure it's a definite article (el or la) and not an indefinite one (un or una):

¡Hola! -La otra socia. -Sí. -La otra.

Hello! -The other partner. -Yes. -The other one.

Caption 16, 75 minutos - Gangas para ricos - Part 8

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Otra Vez: A Useful Spanish Expression

Don't forget about otra vez, a very useful expression that means "another time," "again," or "once again."

Vamos a intentarlo otra vez = Let's try again

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Using Otro in Spanish: Quick Summary

Remember:

✅ Use otro/otra alone to say "another"

❌ Never say un otro or una otra

✅ Use el otro/la otra to say "the other" (when being specific)

That's it for today. We hope this clarified things for you! Feel free to reach out with your questions and suggestions.