Prepositions are small words that link other words together and show relationships of time, place, cause, and more. Here are some of the most common Spanish prepositions, along with their meanings and examples.
a
- Means to, at, or is used before indirect objects.
- Also used with time expressions (e.g., a las dos = at two o’clock).
- Example: Voy a la tienda. (I’m going to the store.)
de
- Means of, from, or about.
- Shows possession, origin, or what something is made of.
- Example: El libro de María. (María’s book.)
en
- Means in, on, or at (when referring to location).
- Also used for means of transportation (e.g., en coche = by car).
- Example: Estoy en casa. (I’m at home.)
I live in Mexico. I live ___ Mexico.
en México
"En" indicates location inside a place, so "en México" means "in Mexico."
con
- Means with.
- Indicates accompaniment or means.
- Example: Quiero café con leche. (I want coffee with milk.)
sin
- Means without.
- Indicates absence of something.
- Example: Café sin azúcar. (Coffee without sugar.)
por
- Means for, by, through, or because of.
- Used to express cause, duration, or means.
- Example: Caminamos por el parque. (We walk through the park.)
para
- Means for, in order to, or towards.
- Indicates purpose, destination, or deadline.
- Example: Este regalo es para ti. (This gift is for you.)
sobre
- Means on, about, or over.
- Can indicate position or topic.
- Example: El libro está sobre la mesa. (The book is on the table.)
We talked about the project. We talked ___ the project.
sobre el proyecto
"Sobre" means "about" when discussing topics or subjects.
entre
- Means between or among.
- Indicates position or choice among multiple options.
- Example: El café está entre el té y el jugo. (The coffee is between the tea and the juice.)
The coffee is between the tea and the juice. The coffee is ___ the tea and the juice.
entre el té y el jugo
"Entre" means "between" when talking about position among options.
Choose between the red and blue shirts. Choose ___ the red and blue shirts.
entre las camisas roja y azul
"Entre" is used to indicate choice among multiple options.
hasta
- Means until or up to.
- Indicates a limit in time or space.
- Example: Trabajo hasta las seis. (I work until six.)
desde
- Means from (in terms of starting point).
- Used with time or place to indicate origin.
- Example: Vivo aquí desde 2020. (I’ve lived here since 2020.)
She’s been studying since morning. She’s been studying ___ morning.
desde la mañana
"Desde" sets the start of a period.
Example
Using several prepositions in one paragraph:
Salgo a las ocho de la mañana con mis amigos para ir al parque y caminar por el sendero entre los árboles.
(I leave at eight in the morning with my friends to go to the park and walk along the path between the trees.)
Tips
- Prepositions in Spanish are usually followed by a noun or pronoun (a mí, de ella).
- Some prepositions contract with articles: a + el = al, de + el = del.
- Many prepositions have multiple meanings depending on context.
- Practice common phrases to get a feel for usage (e.g., a tiempo, de verdad, en casa).
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
