When not to use an article in Spanish

Question

The translation for "for rare diseases" is "por las enfermedades raras". In English no article is used, in Spanish there is. Is there a rule when no article is needed?

Accepted Answer

Hola Mirco

In Spanish, the usage of articles is more prevalent than in English, reflecting the language's tendency to specify gender and number more explicitly.
However, there are instances when articles are not used, though these exceptions might seem less systematic compared to the rules in English.
The case of "por las enfermedades raras" (for rare diseases) includes the article because it specifies a particular group of diseases, reflecting the tendency in Spanish to use the definite article to talk about categories or groups as a whole.
Understanding when to omit the article in Spanish comes with practice and exposure to the language, as exceptions and variations abound. It's also important to note that some of these rules have exceptions or can vary significantly in different contexts or with different speakers.
Un saludo
Silvia