Prepositions of place in Spanish tell us where something is located in relation to something else. They help us describe positions and spatial relationships.
Common Prepositions of Place
Preposition: en
- Meaning: in, on, at
- Usage: Indicates that something is inside a place, on a surface, or at a location.
- Examples:
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| El libro está en la mesa. | The book is on the table. |
| Estoy en la oficina. | I am at the office. |
| Hay leche en el refrigerador. | There is milk in the fridge. |
Preposition: sobre
- Meaning: on, over, above
- Usage: Indicates that something is on top of or above something else. It can imply contact or just being above.
- Examples:
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| El cuaderno está sobre la silla. | The notebook is on the chair. |
| El cuadro está colgado sobre la cama. | The painting is hanging above the bed. |
| Hay polvo sobre la mesa. | There is dust on the table. |
Preposition: debajo de
- Meaning: under, beneath
- Usage: Indicates that something is below something else.
- Examples:
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| El gato está debajo de la cama. | The cat is under the bed. |
| Encontré el mando debajo del sofá. | I found the remote under the sofa. |
| Hay un ratón debajo de la mesa. | There is a mouse under the table. |
Preposition: delante de
- Meaning: in front of
- Usage: Indicates that something is positioned before or in front of something else.
- Examples:
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| El coche está delante de la casa. | The car is in front of the house. |
| Me senté delante del profesor. | I sat in front of the teacher. |
| Hay una fila delante de la tienda. | There’s a line in front of the store. |
Preposition: detrás de
- Meaning: behind
- Usage: Indicates that something is at the back of or behind something else.
- Examples:
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| La bicicleta está detrás del garaje. | The bike is behind the garage. |
| El perro está detrás de la puerta. | The dog is behind the door. |
| Hay un jardín detrás de la casa. | There is a garden behind the house. |
Preposition: al lado de
- Meaning: next to, beside
- Usage: Indicates that something is adjacent to or beside something else.
- Examples:
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| La farmacia está al lado del supermercado. | The pharmacy is next to the supermarket. |
| Me senté al lado de Ana. | I sat next to Ana. |
| El banco está al lado del parque. | The bank is beside the park. |
Preposition: entre
- Meaning: between, among
- Usage: Indicates that something is located in the middle of two or more things.
- Examples:
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| Mi casa está entre la escuela y la biblioteca. | My house is between the school and the library. |
| El niño está entre su madre y su padre. | The child is between his mother and father. |
| Hay una mesa entre las ventanas. | There is a table between the windows. |
Usage Tips
- Most prepositions of place are followed by the preposition "de" when referring to specific nouns (e.g., "debajo de la silla," "delante de la puerta").
- When the noun is definite (el, la, los, las), use "del" = de + el (e.g., "delante del profesor").
- Prepositions are not capitalized unless they start a sentence.
- These prepositions describe static location. To describe movement, use verbs like entrar en (enter into), salir de (leave from), etc.
- Practice with questions: ¿Dónde está...? (“Where is...?”) and responses using these prepositions.
Summary
- en = in, on, at (general location or position)
- sobre = on, over, above (usually on top)
- debajo de = under, beneath (below)
- delante de = in front of (before)
- detrás de = behind (at the back)
- al lado de = next to, beside (adjacent)
- entre = between, among (in the middle)
These prepositions help you describe where things or people are located with clarity and precision in Spanish.
"entre" means ...
between, among (in the middle)
"Entre" is used when something is located in the middle of two or more things.
"en" means ...
in, on, at (general location or position)
"En" is used for general locations, whether inside, on a surface, or at a place.
Flashcards (1 of 21)
- English: The book is on the table.
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
