A high quality storybook illustration of a small child walking completely through a brightly lit, simple tunnel carved into a green hill.

través

/tra-BES/

NounmA2

through?passing from one side to another

Also:across?from one side to the other,by means of?using something as a tool or method

📝 In Action

Miro a través de la ventana para ver el jardín.

I look through the window to see the garden.

El tren viaja a través de las montañas.

The train travels through the mountains.

Aprendí mucho a través de mis errores.

I learned a lot through my mistakes.

Nos comunicamos a través de videollamadas.

We communicate by means of video calls.

Word Connections

Synonyms

por (through, by)
mediante (by means of)

Common Collocations

a través de – through, across, by means of
mirar a través de – to look through
pasar a través de – to pass through

💡 Grammar Points

The Inseparable Trio: 'a través de'

Think of 'través' as a word that almost never goes out alone. It's nearly always part of the three-word team 'a través de' to mean 'through' or 'by means of'.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Don't Forget 'de'!

Mistake: "Caminamos a través el parque."

Correction: Caminamos a través del parque. You almost always need 'de' after 'a través' to connect it to what comes next. Remember, 'del' is just 'de' + 'el' squished together.

⭐ Usage Tips

Physical vs. Abstract 'Through'

'A través de' works perfectly for both physical movement, like 'walking through a forest' (caminar a través del bosque), and for abstract ideas, like 'learning through experience' (aprender a través de la experiencia).

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: través

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence correctly uses 'a través de' to mean 'by means of'?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

atravesar(to cross, to go through) - verb

travesía(journey, crossing) - noun

travieso(mischievous, naughty) - adjective

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between 'por' and 'a través de'?

They can be very similar! 'A través de' often emphasizes crossing from one side completely to the other, like looking 'through a window' or walking 'through a tunnel'. 'Por' can also mean 'through', but it's more general and can also mean 'along', 'around', or 'by'. When talking about 'by means of' (like 'I learned it through an app'), they are often interchangeable, but 'a través de' can sometimes feel a bit more specific or formal.