Mastering Spanish Prepositions: Your A to Z Guide

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A

The preposition “a” is one of the most frequently used prepositions in Spanish. It can mean “to,” “at,” “by,” “on,” and several other things depending on the context.

Usage:

1. Indicating direction or destination:

• Voy a la tienda. (I’m going to the store.)
• Envía la carta a Juan. (Send the letter to Juan.)

1. Indicating time:

• La reunión es a las tres. (The meeting is at three o’clock.)

1. Indicating a rate or price:

• Las manzanas están a dos euros el kilo. (Apples are two euros per kilo.)

Ante

“Ante” translates to “before” or “in the presence of” in English. It’s used to describe a position or situation in front of someone or something, both literally and figuratively.

Usage:

1. Literal sense:

• Se arrodilló ante el altar. (He knelt before the altar.)

1. Figurative sense:

• Ante tanta evidencia, no pudo negarlo. (In the face of so much evidence, he couldn’t deny it.)

Bajo

“Bajo” means “under” or “below” in English. It’s used to indicate position or condition.

Usage:

1. Position:

• El gato está bajo la mesa. (The cat is under the table.)

1. Condition:

• Vive bajo presión constante. (He lives under constant pressure.)

Con

“Con” translates to “with” in English. It is one of the most versatile Spanish prepositions, used to express accompaniment, means, manner, and more.

Usage:

1. Accompaniment:

• Voy al cine con mis amigos. (I’m going to the cinema with my friends.)

1. Means:

• Escribe con un bolígrafo. (He writes with a pen.)

1. Manner:

• Habla con cuidado. (Speak with care.)

Contra

“Contra” means “against” in English. It is one of the most common Spanish prepositions of place. It is used to indicate opposition or physical contact against something.

Usage:

1. Opposition:

• Estoy contra esa idea. (I am against that idea.)

1. Physical contact:

• Apoyó la escalera contra la pared. (He leaned the ladder against the wall.)

De

“De” is one of the most frequently used Spanish prepositions, translating to “of,” “from,” or “about” in English. It is highly versatile and appears in various contexts.

Usage:

1. Possession:

• Es el libro de María. (It’s María’s book.)

1. Origin:

• Soy de España. (I am from Spain.)

1. Material:

• Una mesa de madera. (A wooden table.)

1. Cause:

• Murió de hambre. (He died of hunger.)

Desde

“Desde” means “from” or “since” in English. It is the most widely used Spanish preposition of time and place.

Usage:

1. Starting point in time:

• Vivo aquí desde 2010. (I have lived here since 2010.)

1. Starting point in place:

• Viajamos desde Madrid. (We travel from Madrid.)

Durante

“Durante” translates to “during” in English

Usage:

1. Time period:

• Estudié durante tres horas. (I studied for three hours.)
• Durante la reunión, tomé notas. (During the meeting, I took notes.)

En

“En” translates to “in,” “on,” or “at” in English. It is one of the most versatile Spanish prepositions of place and time.

Usage:

1. Place:

• Estoy en casa. (I am at home.)
• El libro está en la mesa. (The book is on the table.)

1. Time:

• Nos vemos en la mañana. (We will see each other in the morning.)

Entre

“Entre” means “between” or “among” in English. It is used to indicate position or relation.

Usage:

1. Position:

• El coche está entre la casa y el jardín. (The car is between the house and the garden.)

1. Relation:

• Hablamos entre amigos. (We talk among friends.)

Hacia

“Hacia” translates to “towards” in English. It indicates direction or tendency.

Usage:

1. Direction:

• Camina hacia la escuela. (She walks towards the school.)

1. Tendency:

• Tiene una actitud positiva hacia el trabajo. (He has a positive attitude towards work.)

Hasta

“Hasta” means “until” or “up to” in English. It is commonly used as one of the Spanish prepositions of time and place.

Usage:

1. Time:

• Estaré aquí hasta las cinco. (I will be here until five o’clock.)

1. Place:

• Viajaron hasta la montaña. (They traveled up to the mountain.)

Mediante

“Mediante” translates to “by means of” or “through” in English. It is used to indicate the means or method by which something is done.

Usage:

1. Means:

• Logramos el objetivo mediante el trabajo en equipo. (We achieved the goal by means of teamwork.)

Para

“Para” translates to “for,” “to,” “in order to,” or “by” in English. It indicates purpose, direction, recipient, or deadline.

Usage:

1. Purpose:

• Estudio para aprender. (I study in order to learn.)

1. Direction:

• Salgo para la oficina. (I’m leaving for the office.)

1. Recipient:

• Este regalo es para ti. (This gift is for you.)

1. Deadline:

• La tarea es para mañana. (The homework is for tomorrow.)

Por

“Por” translates to “for,” “by,” “through,” “because of,” or “per” in English. It is one of the most multifaceted Spanish prepositions.

Usage:

1. Reason or cause:

• Lo hizo por amor. (He did it for love.)

1. Through or along:

• Paseamos por el parque. (We walked through the park.)

1. Duration:

• Estudié por dos horas. (I studied for two hours.)

1. Exchange or substitution:

• Te doy diez euros por el libro. (I give you ten euros for the book.)

Bonus: What is the difference between “por” and “para”?

The prepositions “por” and “para” in Spanish both translate to “for” in English but are used in different contexts. “Por” is typically used to express cause, duration, exchange, means, movement through space, and the agent in passive constructions. For example, it can indicate the reason for an action, such as “Lo hizo por amor” (He did it for love). It also covers durations of time (“Estudié por dos horas” – I studied for two hours). Additionally, “por” is used to denote the agent in passive sentences, such as “El libro fue escrito por Gabriel García Márquez” (The book was written by Gabriel García Márquez).

On the other hand, “para” is used to express purpose, destination, recipient, deadline, comparison, and opinion. It indicates the goal of an action, such as “Estudio para aprender” (I study in order to learn), and the intended destination, like “Salgo para la oficina” (I’m leaving for the office). It is also used to specify recipients (“Este regalo es para ti” – This gift is for you) and deadlines (“La tarea es para mañana” – The homework is for tomorrow).

Según

“Según” means “according to” in English. It is used to indicate a reference or source of information.

Usage:

1. Reference:

• Según el informe, todo está bien. (According to the report, everything is fine.)

Sin

“Sin” translates to “without” in English. It indicates the absence of something.

Usage:

1. Absence:

• No puedo vivir sin ti. (I can’t live without you.)
• Prefiero el café sin azúcar. (I prefer coffee without sugar.)

Sobre

“Sobre” means “on,” “about,” or “over” in English. It is used to indicate position, topic, or superiority.

Usage:

1. Position:

• El libro está sobre la mesa. (The book is on the table.)

1. Topic:

• Hablaron sobre política. (They talked about politics.)

1. Superiority:

• Tiene control sobre el proyecto. (He has control over the project.)

Tras

“Tras” translates to “after” or “behind” in English. It is used to indicate position or sequence.

Usage:

1. Position:

• El gato está tras la puerta. (The cat is behind the door.)

1. Sequence:

• Día tras día, se esfuerza más. (Day after day, he strives harder.)

Spanish Prepositions Chart

In the Spanish preposition chart below, we summarize everything we’ve said in this blog.

Preposition	Meaning	Usage Examples
A	to, at, by, on	1. Voy a la tienda. (I’m going to the store.) 2. La reunión es a las tres. (The meeting is at three o’clock.)
Ante	before, in the presence of	1. Se arrodilló ante el altar. (He knelt before the altar.) 2. Ante tanta evidencia, no pudo negarlo. (In the face of so much evidence, he couldn’t deny it.)
Bajo	under, below	1. El gato está bajo la mesa. (The cat is under the table.) 2. Vive bajo presión constante. (He lives under constant pressure.)
Cabe	next to, beside (archaic)	1. La fuente está cabe la iglesia. (The fountain is next to the church.)
Con	with	1. Voy al cine con mis amigos. (I’m going to the cinema with my friends.) 2. Escribe con un bolígrafo. (He writes with a pen.)
Contra	against	1. Estoy contra esa idea. (I am against that idea.) 2. Apoyó la escalera contra la pared. (He leaned the ladder against the wall.)
De	of, from, about	1. Es el libro de María. (It’s María’s book.) 2. Soy de España. (I am from Spain.)
Desde	from, since	1. Vivo aquí desde 2010. (I have lived here since 2010.) 2. Viajamos desde Madrid. (We travel from Madrid.)
Durante	during	1. Estudié durante tres horas. (I studied for three hours.) 2. Durante la reunión, tomé notas. (During the meeting, I took notes.)
En	in, on, at	1. Estoy en casa. (I am at home.) 2. El libro está en la mesa. (The book is on the table.)
Entre	between, among	1. El coche está entre la casa y el jardín. (The car is between the house and the garden.) 2. Hablamos entre amigos. (We talk among friends.)
Hacia	towards	1. Camina hacia la escuela. (She walks towards the school.) 2. Tiene una actitud positiva hacia el trabajo. (He has a positive attitude towards work.)
Hasta	until, up to	1. Estaré aquí hasta las cinco. (I will be here until five o’clock.) 2. Viajaron hasta la montaña. (They traveled up to the mountain.)
Mediante	by means of, through	1. Logramos el objetivo mediante el trabajo en equipo. (We achieved the goal by means of teamwork.)
Para	for, to, in order to, by	1. Estudio para aprender. (I study in order to learn.) 2. Salgo para la oficina. (I’m leaving for the office.)
Por	for, by, through, because of, per	1. Lo hizo por amor. (He did it for love.) 2. Paseamos por el parque. (We walked through the park.)
Según	according to	1. Según el informe, todo está bien. (According to the report, everything is fine.)
Sin	without	1. No puedo vivir sin ti. (I can’t live without you.) 2. Prefiero el café sin azúcar. (I prefer coffee without sugar.)
Sobre	on, about, over	1. El libro está sobre la mesa. (The book is on the table.) 2. Hablaron sobre política. (They talked about politics.)
Tras	after, behind	1. El gato está tras la puerta. (The cat is behind the door.) 2. Día tras día, se esfuerza más. (Day after day, he strives harder.)

Understanding these prepositions is crucial for mastering Spanish, as they provide the necessary links to form clear and coherent sentences. By familiarizing yourself with these Spanish prepositions and their uses, you can improve your fluency and comprehension in the language.

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