Prepositions are small words that link nouns, pronouns, and phrases to the rest of a sentence. They show relationships of place, time, direction, cause, manner, and possession. In Spanish, prepositions never change form, but they often pair with specific verbs and carry meanings that do not map cleanly onto English.
What a preposition does
A preposition sits before a noun or pronoun and tells you how that noun connects to the rest of the sentence. In el libro *de María, the preposition *de connects el libro to María and expresses possession. In voy *a la tienda, the preposition *a connects the verb voy to its destination.
El libro está sobre la mesa.
The book is on the table.
The main Spanish prepositions
Spanish has a short list of core single-word prepositions. Most grammar books teach them as a group because students are expected to recognize every one of them.
| Preposition | Typical meaning |
|---|---|
| a | to, at |
| de | of, from |
| en | in, on, at |
| con | with |
| sin | without |
| por | for, by, through |
| para | for, in order to |
| desde | from, since |
| hasta | until, up to |
| entre | between, among |
| sobre | on, about |
| bajo | under |
| ante | before, in front of |
| contra | against |
| hacia | toward |
| tras | after, behind |
| según | according to |
| mediante | by means of |
| durante | during |
The trickiest prepositions
Three prepositions cause the most trouble for learners: a, de, and en. Each one covers several unrelated English meanings and appears in fixed expressions. That is why this guide devotes a separate page to each major use of these three words.
Start with a for direction, the personal a, and time expressions. Then move on to de for possession and material or content. Finally, work through en for location and time.
Voy a la escuela en carro.
I am going to school by car.
La casa de mi abuela está en el campo.
My grandmother's house is in the countryside.
Verb + preposition combinations
Many Spanish verbs require a specific preposition before a following noun or infinitive. These combinations must be memorized because they rarely match English usage.
Aprendo a cocinar comida mexicana.
I am learning to cook Mexican food.
Nos olvidamos de llamar a nuestros padres.
We forgot to call our parents.
You will find dedicated pages on verbs that take a and de for common patterns.
Contractions with the article el
Spanish has only two preposition contractions, and both are mandatory. The prepositions a and de combine with the masculine singular article el to form al and del.
Why prepositions matter
Choosing the right preposition changes the meaning of a sentence. Pienso en ti means I am thinking about you, while pienso de ti would sound odd or shift the sense toward I have an opinion of you. Small differences in preposition use can mark a learner as a beginner or as someone who has truly internalized the language.
Related Topics
- A: Direction and DestinationA1 — How to use the preposition a to express movement toward a place or person.
- De: Possession and OriginA1 — How Spanish uses de to express possession, origin, and relationships.
- En: LocationA1 — How en covers in, on, and at when describing location in Spanish.