Spanish Contractions
Spanish contractions (contracciones) are combinations of two words that merge into a single form. Unlike English, which has many optional contractions (don't, won't, can't), Spanish has only two mandatory contractions: "al" (a + el) and "del" (de + el). These contractions must be used whenever the prepositions "a" or "de" precede the masculine singular definite article "el."
Key Characteristics
Only Two Contractions
Spanish only has two official contractions: al (a + el) and del (de + el). They are mandatory, not optional.
Always Required
Unlike English contractions, Spanish contractions are not casual or optional - you must use them.
Only with "el"
Contractions only occur with the masculine singular article "el," not with él (he), la, los, or las.
Proper Nouns Exception
Contractions are not used when "El" is part of a proper noun like "El Salvador."
Visual Examples
Explore these contractions with images and audio pronunciation from our visual dictionary.
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Types of Contractions
Direction (al)
a + el = going to/toward something
Origin/Possession (del)
de + el = from/of something
Formation Rules
a + el always becomes al
de + el always becomes del
No contraction with él (he), la, los, las
Common Mistakes to Avoid
❌ Writing "a el" or "de el" separately
✓ You must contract these to "al" and "del" - it's not optional.
✗ Voy a el mercado | ✓ Voy al mercado
❌ Contracting with other articles
✓ Only "el" contracts. Don't contract with la, los, las, or él (he).
✗ Voy a la → al la (wrong!) | ✓ Voy a la escuela (correct - no contraction)
❌ Contracting with proper nouns
✓ Don't contract when El is part of a place name.
✓ Voy a El Salvador (not "al Salvador") | ✓ Soy de El Cairo (not "del Cairo")
How Spanish Contractions Differ from English
Mandatory vs Optional
English contractions are optional and casual (do not = don't). Spanish contractions are mandatory in all registers.
Only Two Contractions
English has dozens of contractions. Spanish has only two: al and del.
Pro Tips for Using Contractions
💡 Think of "al" and "del" as single words
Example: Don't think of them as "a + el" - just memorize "al" means "to the" and "del" means "from/of the"
💡 Remember: él (with accent) = he, el (no accent) = the
Example: Only contract with el (the), never with él (he): "Hablo de él" not "del"
Browse All 2 Spanish Contractions
Explore our complete collection of Spanish contractions, organized by CEFR proficiency level. Click any word to see detailed definitions, usage examples, and pronunciation guides.