📍 Spanish Prepositions
Spanish prepositions connect words and show relationships involving place, movement, time, and direction. Words such as en, a, de, and con appear constantly in everyday Spanish, so learning them in complete phrases can help you build more natural sentences.
🟢 Essential Spanish Prepositions
📍 En → In / On / At
Example:
Estoy en la biblioteca.
I am at the library.
Example:
Estoy en la biblioteca.
I am at the library.
➡️ A → To / At
Example:
Vamos a la playa.
We are going to the beach.
Example:
Vamos a la playa.
We are going to the beach.
📦 De → From / Of
Example:
Soy de Colombia.
I am from Colombia.
Example:
Soy de Colombia.
I am from Colombia.
🤝 Con → With
Example:
Ceno con mis amigos.
I have dinner with my friends.
Example:
Ceno con mis amigos.
I have dinner with my friends.
🚫 Sin → Without
Example:
Prefiero el café sin azúcar.
I prefer coffee without sugar.
Example:
Prefiero el café sin azúcar.
I prefer coffee without sugar.
🎁 Para → For / In order to
Example:
Este regalo es para ti.
This gift is for you.
Example:
Este regalo es para ti.
This gift is for you.
🟡 Describing Where Things Are
⬆️ Encima de → On top of / Above
El teléfono está encima de la mesa.
The phone is on top of the table.
El teléfono está encima de la mesa.
The phone is on top of the table.
⬇️ Debajo de → Under / Below
Los zapatos están debajo de la cama.
The shoes are under the bed.
Los zapatos están debajo de la cama.
The shoes are under the bed.
↔️ Al lado de → Next to
El café está al lado del hotel.
The café is next to the hotel.
El café está al lado del hotel.
The café is next to the hotel.
📍 Entre → Between
El banco está entre la farmacia y el supermercado.
The bank is between the pharmacy and the supermarket.
El banco está entre la farmacia y el supermercado.
The bank is between the pharmacy and the supermarket.
🚪 Delante de → In front of
Hay un taxi delante del edificio.
There is a taxi in front of the building.
Hay un taxi delante del edificio.
There is a taxi in front of the building.
↩️ Detrás de → Behind
El jardín está detrás de la casa.
The garden is behind the house.
El jardín está detrás de la casa.
The garden is behind the house.
📏 Cerca de → Near / Close to
Vivimos cerca de una estación de tren.
We live near a train station.
Vivimos cerca de una estación de tren.
We live near a train station.
🌄 Lejos de → Far from
La playa está lejos del centro.
The beach is far from downtown.
La playa está lejos del centro.
The beach is far from downtown.
🔵 Movement & Direction
➡️ A → To
Use a to express movement toward a destination.
Voy a la estación.
I am going to the station.
Use a to express movement toward a destination.
Voy a la estación.
I am going to the station.
🧭 Hacia → Toward
Use hacia for movement in the direction of something.
Caminamos hacia el río.
We are walking toward the river.
Use hacia for movement in the direction of something.
Caminamos hacia el río.
We are walking toward the river.
🚪 Desde → From / Since
Use desde for a starting point in place or time.
Caminamos desde el hotel.
We walked from the hotel.
Use desde for a starting point in place or time.
Caminamos desde el hotel.
We walked from the hotel.
🛣️ Por → Through / Along / By
One use of por is describing movement through or around a place.
Paseamos por el parque.
We walk through the park.
One use of por is describing movement through or around a place.
Paseamos por el parque.
We walk through the park.
⏰ Prepositions & Expressions of Time
🌅 Antes de → Before
Desayuno antes de trabajar.
I eat breakfast before working.
Desayuno antes de trabajar.
I eat breakfast before working.
🌙 Después de → After
Salimos después de cenar.
We go out after dinner.
Salimos después de cenar.
We go out after dinner.
⏳ Desde → Since / From
Trabajo aquí desde enero.
I have worked here since January.
Trabajo aquí desde enero.
I have worked here since January.
🏁 Hasta → Until / Up to
La tienda está abierta hasta las nueve.
The store is open until nine.
La tienda está abierta hasta las nueve.
The store is open until nine.
🧩 Two Important Contractions
➡️ A + el = al
When a comes directly before the masculine singular article el, they combine to form al.
Voy al mercado.
I am going to the market.
When a comes directly before the masculine singular article el, they combine to form al.
Voy al mercado.
I am going to the market.
📦 De + el = del
When de comes directly before the masculine singular article el, they combine to form del.
Vengo del supermercado.
I am coming from the supermarket.
When de comes directly before the masculine singular article el, they combine to form del.
Vengo del supermercado.
I am coming from the supermarket.
⚠️ La Does Not Contract
The feminine article la remains separate.
Voy a la biblioteca.
Vengo de la biblioteca.
The feminine article la remains separate.
Voy a la biblioteca.
Vengo de la biblioteca.
💡 Choosing the Right Preposition
📍 Location vs Destination
Estoy en el museo.
I am at the museum.
Voy al museo.
I am going to the museum.
Estoy en el museo.
I am at the museum.
Voy al museo.
I am going to the museum.
🧭 Destination vs Direction
Voy a Madrid.
I am going to Madrid.
Conducimos hacia Madrid.
We are driving toward Madrid.
Voy a Madrid.
I am going to Madrid.
Conducimos hacia Madrid.
We are driving toward Madrid.
🤝 With vs Without
Viajo con mi familia.
I travel with my family.
Viajo sin equipaje.
I travel without luggage.
Viajo con mi familia.
I travel with my family.
Viajo sin equipaje.
I travel without luggage.
💬 Prepositions in Conversation
Finding a Place:
A: ¿Dónde está la farmacia?
B: Está al lado del banco, delante del parque.
A: Where is the pharmacy?
B: It is next to the bank, in front of the park.
A: ¿Dónde está la farmacia?
B: Está al lado del banco, delante del parque.
A: Where is the pharmacy?
B: It is next to the bank, in front of the park.
Making Plans:
A: ¿Vas al centro esta tarde?
B: Sí, voy con mi hermana después del trabajo.
A: Are you going downtown this afternoon?
B: Yes, I'm going with my sister after work.
A: ¿Vas al centro esta tarde?
B: Sí, voy con mi hermana después del trabajo.
A: Are you going downtown this afternoon?
B: Yes, I'm going with my sister after work.
🏆 Final Practice
Choose the best preposition or expression to complete each sentence.
- Estoy ___ la oficina. → en
- Voy ___ supermercado. → al
- El gato está ___ la cama. → debajo de
- Ceno ___ mis amigos. → con
- Trabajo aquí ___ marzo. → desde
- El restaurante está ___ el hotel y el banco. → entre
- Caminamos ___ la playa. → hacia
- La tienda está abierta ___ las diez. → hasta
Tip: Prepositions do not always translate directly between English and Spanish. Learning complete phrases such as ir al mercado, estar en casa, and al lado de can make the correct preposition easier to remember.