Can somebody please explain why nouns like "the Devil", "the Pope", "the Holy Spirit" need the word "the"? (lemmy.world)

submitted 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) by nerdhd@lemmy.world to c/asklemmy@lemmy.ml

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Aren't they all proper nouns and therefore supposed to not need the definite article?

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[-] makr_alland@lemmy.world 6 points 3 days ago

In some Catalan dialects you use a special determinate article just for people (en Robert, na Michelle), one for "common" things there could be many of (sa house, es car) and a third for things there's only one of (el Pope, la Reina).

Languages are fun!

[-] YaksDC@sh.itjust.works 2 points 3 days ago

Not when you are a monolingual American living in Portugal trying to learn Portuguese. Lol

[-] davel@lemmy.ml 1 points 3 days ago

Balearic Catalan has them all.

this post was submitted on 13 Aug 2026

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