How to Say "at" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “at” is “a” — use 'a' when indicating a destination or a specific point in time, like a clock hour.
a
aha
Examples
Voy a la tienda.
I am going to the store.
Llegamos a Madrid ayer.
We arrived in Madrid yesterday.
El niño se acercó a su madre.
The boy approached his mother.
La reunión es a las tres.
The meeting is at three o'clock.
Direction and Destination
Use 'a' when expressing movement toward a physical place or goal. Think of it as the opposite of 'de' (from).
Contraction 'al'
If 'a' is followed by the masculine article 'el' (the), they must combine to form 'al'. Example: Voy al cine (I go to the cinema). This is mandatory.
Telling Time
Always use 'a' before the hour when saying what time something happens. Remember to use 'la' for one o'clock and 'las' for all other hours: 'a la una', 'a las dos'.
Describing Method
Use 'a' to describe how something is done, similar to 'by' or 'in the style of' in English (e.g., 'a mano' - by hand; 'a la mexicana' - in the Mexican style).
Forgetting 'al'
Mistake: “Voy a el parque.”
Correction: Voy al parque. (The contraction 'al' is required when 'a' meets 'el'.)
Using 'en' for time
Mistake: “La clase empieza en las ocho.”
Correction: La clase empieza a las ocho. (Use 'a' for specific clock times.)
en
enen
Examples
Estamos en el parque.
We are at the park.
El libro está en la mesa.
The book is on the table.
Vivo en una ciudad grande.
I live in a big city.
Mis amigos están en el cine.
My friends are at the movies.
One Word, Three Meanings
In English, you use 'in', 'on', and 'at' for location. Spanish simplifies this by using 'en' for all three. The specific meaning comes from the situation.
Location vs. Movement
Mistake: “Voy a el supermercado. Estoy a el supermercado.”
Correction: Voy al supermercado. Estoy en el supermercado. Use 'a' for movement towards a place, and 'en' when you are already there.
de
dehde
Examples
Son las tres de la mañana.
It's three in the morning.
Tengo una cita a las diez de la mañana.
I have an appointment at ten in the morning.
Salimos a las siete de la tarde.
We leave at seven in the evening.
Using 'en' instead of 'de'
Mistake: “Son las dos en la tarde.”
Correction: Son las dos de la tarde. When you're stating the specific hour, use 'de' to connect it to the part of the day.
Confusing 'a' and 'en' for location
Learn Spanish with Inklingo
Interactive stories, personalized learning, and more.