sobre

/SO-bray/

PrepositionA1

on?physical position, on top of

Also:about?referring to a topic,over?above, without touching,approximately?used with numbers or time

📝 In Action

El libro está sobre la mesa.

The book is on the table.

Es una película sobre la historia de México.

It's a movie about the history of Mexico.

El avión vuela sobre las nubes.

The plane flies over the clouds.

Llegaré sobre las cinco de la tarde.

I will arrive around five in the afternoon.

Related Words

Synonyms

encima de (on top of)
acerca de (about)

Antonyms

debajo de (under)

Common Collocations

hablar sobre algo – to talk about something
escribir sobre un tema – to write about a topic

💡 Grammar Points

Using 'sobre' for Location

'Sobre' means 'on top of' something. It's similar to 'en' (on/in), but 'sobre' makes it extra clear that the object is resting on the surface. 'El gato está sobre el coche' means the cat is on top of the car.

Using 'sobre' for Topics

When you want to say 'about' a topic, like in a book or conversation, 'sobre' is a great choice. You can often use 'de' in the same way, but 'sobre' sounds a little more specific. For example, 'un libro sobre piratas' (a book about pirates).

❌ Common Pitfalls

'Sobre' vs. 'En'

Mistake: "Using 'en' when you specifically mean 'on top of'."

Correction: While 'en la mesa' (on the table) is correct, 'sobre la mesa' emphasizes that it's on the surface, not inside a drawer in the table. Use 'sobre' for clarity.

⭐ Usage Tips

Sounding More Specific

Using 'sobre' instead of 'de' when talking about a topic can make you sound more precise, especially in writing. 'Un documental sobre la naturaleza' feels slightly more formal than 'un documental de la naturaleza'.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: sobre

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence uses 'sobre' to mean 'envelope'?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

sobrar(to be left over) - verb

sobresaliente(outstanding) - adjective

sobretodo(overcoat) - noun

sobresalto(shock, fright) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between 'sobre', 'en', and 'encima de'?

They can all mean 'on', but with small differences. 'En' is the most general and can mean 'in' or 'on'. 'Sobre' specifically means 'on top of' the surface. 'Encima de' is very similar to 'sobre' and strongly emphasizes 'on top of', often used to contrast with 'debajo de' (underneath).

How do I know if 'sobre' means 'on' or 'about'?

Context is your best friend! If it describes a physical location ('sobre la mesa' - on the table), it means 'on'. If it describes the topic of a book, movie, or conversation ('un libro sobre historia' - a book about history), it means 'about'.