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Spanish Prepositions

Spanish prepositions (preposiciones) are small but essential words that show relationships between other words in a sentence. They indicate location (en, sobre), direction (a, hacia), time (durante, después de), or other relationships (con, sin). Prepositions rarely translate word-for-word from English, making them challenging for learners.

Key Characteristics

Fixed with Certain Verbs

Many Spanish verbs require specific prepositions that don't match English patterns. "Pensar en" (to think about), "soñar con" (to dream of).

A and De Contract

When "a" or "de" come before "el", they must contract: a + el = al, de + el = del.

Por vs Para

Spanish has two words for "for" with different meanings. This distinction doesn't exist in English.

Don't Always Match English

Spanish prepositions rarely translate directly. "Confiar en" means "to trust in/trust," but English would just say "trust someone."

Visual Examples

Explore these prepositions with images and audio pronunciation from our visual dictionary.

An arrow pointing towards a house, illustrating movement to a destination.

a

to

A1
A red book with a simple name tag that says 'Ana', showing that the book belongs to her.

de

of

A1
A stylized map with a prominent red pin marking a city, and a dotted line path starting from that pin and moving away.

desde

from

A1
A stylized image showing an open book spanning across a visual transition from a dark night sky to a bright morning sky, symbolizing an activity occurring over a duration of time.

durante

during

A1
A red book resting on a wooden table, illustrating the Spanish word 'en' for location.

en

in

A1
A small red box positioned exactly between two large, identical blue pillars.

entre

between

A1
A small group of stylized people walking along a path directly heading toward a brightly lit lighthouse on a distant shore.

hacia

toward

A1
A person walking on a path that ends at a large, friendly-looking tree, representing a clear endpoint.

hasta

until

A1
A person walking along a path towards a glowing lightbulb, representing moving toward a goal or purpose.

para

in order to

A1
A person holding an umbrella in the rain, illustrating 'por' used to show the reason for something.

por

for

A1
A cup of coffee next to an empty sugar bowl, illustrating the concept of 'without sugar'.

sin

without

A1
A pair of glasses resting on top of an open book on a wooden table.

sobre

on

A1

Types of Prepositions

Location Prepositions

Where something is

en
in, on, at
sobre
on, above
bajo
under
entre
between
detrás de
behind

Direction Prepositions

Where something is going

a
to, at
hacia
toward
de
from, of
desde
from, since
hasta
until, up to

Time Prepositions

When something happens

durante
during
antes de
before
después de
after
desde
since

Other Relationships

Various connections between ideas

con
with
sin
without
para
for, in order to
por
for, by, through

Formation Rules

Mandatory contractions: a + el = al, de + el = del

Voy al mercado → I'm going to the market
Vengo del trabajo → I'm coming from work

Use "a" before direct objects that are people

Veo a María → I see María
Veo el coche → I see the car (no "a")

Common Mistakes to Avoid

❌ Translating English prepositions directly

✓ Spanish preposition usage doesn't match English. Learn verb + preposition combinations.

✗ Buscar por algo | ✓ Buscar algo (to search for something - no preposition!)

❌ Confusing por and para

✓ Por = cause, exchange, duration. Para = destination, purpose, deadline.

Lo hice por ti (I did it because of you) | Lo hice para ti (I did it for you/your benefit)

❌ Forgetting personal "a"

✓ Use "a" before direct object people.

✗ Veo María | ✓ Veo a María (I see María)

How Spanish Prepositions Differ from English

One Word, Multiple Meanings

"En" can mean "in," "on," or "at" depending on context. Spanish uses fewer prepositions than English in some ways.

Por vs Para Distinction

English uses "for" for both. Spanish distinguishes between reason/cause (por) and purpose/destination (para).

Pro Tips for Using Prepositions

💡 Learn prepositions with their verbs

Example: Don't just learn "de" - learn "hablar de" (to talk about), "tratar de" (to try to)

💡 For por vs para, think: Por = motive/reason, Para = goal/purpose

Example: Estudio por mi futuro (because of my future) | Estudio para el examen (for the exam/goal)

Browse All 16 Spanish Prepositions

Explore our complete collection of Spanish prepositions, organized by CEFR proficiency level. Click any word to see detailed definitions, usage examples, and pronunciation guides.

A1 - Beginner(12 words)

aA1
/ah/
→ to
deA1
/deh/
→ of
desdeA1
/DEHS-deh/
→ from
duranteA1
/doo-RAHN-teh/
→ during
enA1
/en/
→ in
entreA1
/EN-treh/
→ between
haciaA1
/ah-see-ah/
→ toward
hastaA1
/AS-ta/
→ until

A2 - Elementary(4 words)

antesA2
/ahn-tess/
→ before
bajoA2
/BA-ho/
→ under
contraA2
/KON-tra/
→ against
menosA2
/MEH-nohs/
→ except

Continue Learning

← Browse all parts of speech→ Explore full Spanish dictionary→ Learn more about Spanish grammar