📍 Prepositions - Preposiciones

Aa ⏱ ≈ 15 minutes

Beginner Spanish · Prepositions

Spanish Prepositions

Prepositions are small words that connect ideas. They help you talk about where something is, where someone is going, where something comes from, who you are with, and when something happens.

Your next small win: use common prepositions such as en, a, de, con, and sin, describe locations, and recognize useful combinations such as al and del.

Start with everyday connectors

Essential Prepositions

en
in / on / at
a
to / at
de
from / of
con
with
sin
without
para
for / in order to
Estoy en la biblioteca.
I am at the library.
Vamos a la playa.
We are going to the beach.
Soy de Colombia.
I am from Colombia.
Ceno con mis amigos.
I have dinner with my friends.
Prefiero el café sin azúcar.
I prefer coffee without sugar.
Este regalo es para ti.
This gift is for you.

Location vs. destination: compare Estoy en el museo, “I am at the museum,” with Voy al museo, “I am going to the museum.”

Use three core prepositions

Say that you are at the library, you are from Colombia, and you have dinner with your friends.

Describe where things are

Prepositions of Location

encima de
on top of / above
debajo de
under / below
al lado de
next to
entre
between
delante de
in front of
detrás de
behind
Near and far
cerca de
near / close to
lejos de
far from
El teléfono está encima de la mesa.
The phone is on top of the table.
Los zapatos están debajo de la cama.
The shoes are under the bed.
El banco está entre la farmacia y el supermercado.
The bank is between the pharmacy and the supermarket.
El jardín está detrás de la casa.
The garden is behind the house.

Finding a place

A
¿Dónde está la farmacia?
Where is the pharmacy?
B
Está al lado del banco, delante del parque.
It is next to the bank, in front of the park.

Describe two locations

Say that the shoes are under the bed and the garden is behind the house.

Show movement and direction

Movement and Direction

a
to, toward a destination
hacia
toward / in the direction of
desde
from / since
por
through / along / by, in this lesson
Voy a la estación.
I am going to the station.
Caminamos hacia el río.
We are walking toward the river.
Caminamos desde el hotel.
We walk from the hotel.
Paseamos por el parque.
We walk through the park.

Destination vs. direction: Voy a Madrid presents Madrid as the destination. Conducimos hacia Madrid describes movement in Madrid's direction.

Describe a route

Say that you walk from the hotel toward the river.

Connect actions in time

Time Expressions and Contractions

antes de
before
después de
after
desde
since / from
hasta
until / up to
Desayuno antes de trabajar.
I eat breakfast before working.
Salimos después de cenar.
We go out after dinner.
Trabajo aquí desde enero.
I have worked here since January.
La tienda está abierta hasta las nueve.
The store is open until nine.

Two important contractions

a + el = al
to the
de + el = del
from the / of the
Voy al mercado.
I am going to the market.
Vengo del supermercado.
I am coming from the supermarket.
Voy a la biblioteca.
I am going to the library.
Vengo de la biblioteca.
I am coming from the library.

Only el contracts here: use al and del, but keep a la and de la separate.

Making plans

A
¿Vas al centro esta tarde?
Are you going downtown this afternoon?
B
Sí, voy con mi hermana después del trabajo.
Yes, I am going with my sister after work.

Use contractions and time

Say that you are going to the market after work and coming from the supermarket.

Your turn · 8 quick questions

Practice: Spanish Prepositions

Choose the answer that best fits each situation. Focus on location, destinations, direction, companionship, time expressions, and contractions.

Audio uses your device's Spanish text-to-speech voice. Practice prepositions inside complete phrases, since short combinations such as en la biblioteca, al mercado, del hotel, and con mis amigos are easier to remember in context.