How to Say "through" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “through” is “por” — use 'por' when describing movement or passage *within* or *along* a space, like moving along a street or through a forest..
por
/por//poɾ/
Examples
Caminamos por el parque.
We walk through the park.
Paseamos por la playa.
We walk along the beach.
El gato entró por la ventana.
The cat came in through the window.
¿Hay una farmacia por aquí?
Is there a pharmacy around here?
Movement in an Area
Use 'por' to talk about moving through, along, or around a place. It focuses on the journey or the general area, not the endpoint.
Using 'En' for Movement
Mistake: “A common mix-up is saying: 'Camino en el parque.'”
Correction: The correct phrase is: 'Camino por el parque.' Saying 'en el parque' means you are located *inside* the park (maybe sitting on a bench), while 'por el parque' describes the action of moving *through* it.
a través de
Examples
Mira a través de la ventana.
Look through the window.
mediante
meh-dee-AHN-teh/meˈðjan.te/
Examples
Resolvimos el problema mediante una llamada.
We solved the problem through a call.
Pudimos resolver el problema mediante una simple llamada.
We were able to solve the problem by means of a simple call.
La donación se hizo mediante transferencia bancaria.
The donation was made via bank transfer.
Obtuvieron la información mediante un contacto secreto.
They obtained the information through a secret contact.
Always Unchanging
As a preposition, 'mediante' is invariable—it always stays the same, regardless of whether the thing that follows it is singular or plural, masculine or feminine.
Introducing the Method
Use 'mediante' when you want to clearly state the instrument, process, or channel used to make something happen.
Confusing with 'Por'
Mistake: “La inscripción se hace por el sitio web. (Literal translation of 'through')”
Correction: La inscripción se hace mediante el sitio web. ('Mediante' emphasizes the website as the specific channel or method, which is often preferred in formal contexts over 'por'.)
Por vs. A través de
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