How to Say "via" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “via” is “por” — use 'por' when referring to the specific channel or means of communication or travel, like 'by phone' or 'by bus'..
por
/por//poɾ/
Examples
Hablamos por teléfono todas las noches.
We talk on the phone every night.
Te enviaré los documentos por correo.
I will send you the documents by mail.
La película fue dirigida por un director famoso.
The movie was directed by a famous director.
Passive Voice
'Por' is used to say who performed the action in a passive sentence. For example, 'El libro fue escrito por ella' (The book was written by her).
Using 'En' for Communication
Mistake: “Learners might say: 'Hablamos en teléfono.'”
Correction: The correct way is: 'Hablamos por teléfono.' Think of the phone as the channel *through which* your voice is traveling.
mediante
meh-dee-AHN-teh/meˈðjan.te/
Examples
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'.)
Choosing Between 'Por' and 'Mediante'
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