Prepositions Flashcards
English
Spanish
at
for times
at 8 o’clock
a
a las 8 horas
to
in from … to …
from Tuesday to Thursday
de lunes a jueves
to
direction (building, city, country) - where to?
To the library
to Madrid
to Brazil
a
a la biblioteca
a Madrid
a Brasil
by, on, with
means, instrument/tool
made by hand
written by machine (typed?)
a
hecho a mano, escribir a máquina
by
to travel by foot, on horseback
a
ir a pie, a caballo
to, used with indirect object
indirect recipient of an action (when it could be replaced with to + object)
I gave the book to my sister.
a
Le di el libro a mi hermana.
“the invisible word you only use when a person is the direct object”
What word does spanish use to say “He saw Clara.” that we don’t even have in the English phrase?
used with a direct object: people
direct recipient of an action, but only when it’s a person
He saw Clara.
a
He visto a Clara.
to
to a person’s house
a casa de
ir a casa de mis padres
be in favor of
be in favor of somebody/something
a favor de
Estoy a favor de elegir un nuevo delegado de clase.
with
with the wind/current
a favor de
El barco está a favor del viento
right of …
on a side (right)
a la derecha de
a la derecha del coche
left of …
on a side (left)
a la izquierda de
a la izquierda del coche
despite
despite something
despite the bad weather
a pesar de
a pesar del mal tiempo
through/across
to get to the other side
through the room or across Spain
a través de
a través de la puerta
a través de España
next to
next to something
example John is next to the car.
al lado de
Juan está al lado del coche.
near (as in “next to”)
geographically close to something (next to or adjacent)
I live next to the station.
al lado de
Vivo al lado de la estación.
How do I know when to use “lado” and when to use “cerca” ? If you break it down. Lado means “side.” So “al lado del” is literally “to the side of the” and cerca meaning “close” or “near” gives you “close/near to” with “cerca de.” So “al lado del” would be adjacent to something while “cerca de” mearly in the vicinity.
around
around something
example: around the house
alrededor de
alrededor de la casa
before
before a certain time
example: before 8 o’clock
antes de
antes de las 8 horas
antes del curso
near (as in “close to”)
geographically close to something (close, without implying adjacent or next to)
I live near the station.
cerca de
Vivo cerca de la estación.
How do I know when to use “lado” and when to use “cerca” ? If you break it down. Lado means “side.” So “al lado del” is literally “to the side of the” and cerca meaning “close” or “near” gives you “close/near to” with “cerca de.” So “al lado del” would be adjacent to something while “cerca de” mearly in the vicinity.
with
with someone
example: with John
con
con su perro, con Juan
with
in a certain way
example: with happiness or with joy
con
con alegría
against (place)
against something
example: against the wall
contra
contra la pared
against (other uses)
Contra can express being opposed to something or to be physically against something.
My position is against bullfighting, not against the people.
My body is against the wall.
contra
Mi postura es contra las corridas de toros, no contra las personas.
Mi cuerpo está contra la pared.
Synonyms: en contra de, en oposición
from
in from … to …
example: from 8 am to 9 am (referring to time)
example: from Monday to Thursday
de
de 8 a 9
de lunes a jueves
from
from a place (where from?)
(referring to place)
de
Vengo de Andalucía.
of
corresponds to the genitive: possession/belonging
example: a page of the book
de
una página del libro
by
the creator, author, etc.
Example: a book by Gabriel
de
un libro de Gabriel García Márquez
from
the giver is mentioned
example: a gift from Julia
de
un regalo de Julia
made of
material
example: a cotton jersey
de
un jersey de algodón
under
directly under something
example: under the table
debajo de
debajo de la mesa
in front of
in front of something
example: In front of the tree
delante de
delante del árbol
in
after a certain amount of time
example: in an hour
dentro de
dentro de una hora
since/ as of/ starting at starting
at
a certain point in time
example: since 1980 or since 8 o’clock
desde
desde 1980
desde las 8 horas
for
for a certain period of time from the past until now
example: For two years, the neighbor has done that.
desde hace
desde hace 2 años
after
after a certain point in time
example: after 8 pm
después de
después de las 8
después del curso
behind
behind something
example: behind the house
detrás de
detrás de la casa
during, for
to indicate a length of time
example: during vacation, for three days
durante
durante las vacaciones
durante tres días
in
referring to time - months, seasons, years etc
example: in February, in summer, in 2008
en
months en febrero
seasons en verano
years en 2008
on
directly on something (referring to place)
example: to sit on the chair
en
sentarse en la silla
in
room, building, street, city, country (where?)
book, newspaper, etc.
means of transportation (position)
example: in the city, in the book, I like to read on the train.
en
en la ciudad
en el libro
Me gusta leer en el tren.
by, in the
means of transportation
example: I am going by car, in the train, by airplane, etc
en
en coche, en tren, en avión, en moto
at
at a person’s house
example: I am at Pablo’s house
en casa de
estoy en casa de Pablo
against
refusing/declining something
example: to be against an idea
en contra de
estar en contra de una idea
on
directly on something
example: on the table
encima de
encima de la mesa
across from
directly across from something
example: He lives across from my house.
enfrente de
Él vive enfrente de mi casa.
between
between two or more things
example: Andorra is between France and Spain.
entre
Andorra está entre Francia y España.
except
exception
example: Everybody has come except Hugo.
excepto/salvo
Todos han venido excepto Hugo.
outside (of)
outside of something
example: outside of the house
fuera de
fuera de la casa
thanks to
help of something or someone
example: Thanks to Carmen, it was finished quickly.
gracias a
Gracias a Carmen, terminé más rápido.
Gracias a mi ordenador, terminé más rápido.
ago
a certain time in the past
example: Eight years ago I quit smoking.
hace
Hace ocho años que dejé de fumar.
towards
in the direction of something (but not all the way there)
example: Go north/towards the north.
hacia
Ve hacia el norte.
toward, to
Expresses which way something or someone is moving to.
We’re going towards downtown.
Where is this bus heading to?
hacia
Nos dirigimos hacia el centro de la ciudad.
¿Hacia dónde va este autobús?
Synonyms: en dirección a, con destino a
by, until
by/until a certain point in time
example: until February
hasta
hasta febrero
even
additional information or something unexpected
example: Even Hugo has come.
incluso
Incluso Hugo ha venido.
near, next to, by next to/close to something
example: next to the entrance.
junto a
junto a la entrada
far (away) from
geographical distance
example: I live far from the station.
lejos de
Vivo lejos de la estación.
through
One more of the recent additions to the Spanish prepositions list. Mediante expresses how something is done.
Example: The pay will be done through electronic transfer.
mediante
El pago se hará mediante transferencia electrónica.
Synonyms: por medio de, con la ayuda de
for, in order to
the recipient or addressee is named
example: a gift for my dad
para
un regalo para mi padre
in, at
general time of day
example: in the morning, at night
por
por la mañana, por la noche
through, by
way, direction
example: You have to enter through the door.
por
Tienes que entrar por la puerta.
by
by means of something
example: by email (send it by email)
por
por correo electrónico
by
the thing or person that performed an action is named in a passive construction
example: The apartment was rented by a family. (passive because if it were active it would be “the family rented the apartment.”)
por
El piso fue alquilado por una familia.
per, a
distribution/allocation
example: 3 times per week
por
tres veces por semana
for
reason for something
example: he was arrested for robbery
por
fue detenido por robo
according to
referencing someone or something
example: according to the magazine
según
según el periódico
without
lacking objects or people
example: without my suitcases
example: without my brother
sin
sin mis maletas
sin mi hermano
under
Just like cabe, “this word” is one of the least used Spanish prepositions. In old Spanish it meant “under” but nobody uses it in that sense any more. These days it’s only used as part of fixed expressions such as:
under the threat of
under the pretext of
so
so pena de
so pretexto de
around, about
general times
about 10 o’clock
sobre
sobre las 10 horas
over, above
directly over/above something
example: over the head
sobre
sobre la cabeza
on
directly on something
example: on the table
sobre
sobre la mesa
about, on
referring to a subject/topic
example: an article about poverty, or an article on poverty
sobre
un artículo sobre la pobreza
after
after a certain point in time
example - After winter
tras
tras el invierno
behind
behind something
example: behind the door
tras
tras la puerta
versus
One of the recently added Spanish prepositions, versus expresses opposition.
Tomorrow Real Madrid versus Barcelona plays.
versus
Mañana juega el Real Madrid versus Barcelona.
Synonyms: frente a
through, by
Use via to say how you’re sending or receiving something, or to express the route you’re taking.
I sent it to you by airmail.
I flew to Spain through the United States.
via
Te lo envié por vía aérea.
Volé a España vía Estados Unidos.
Synonyms: pasando por, a través de
by
to travel by train, or by car
en
to travel by train, or by car
en el tren, en coche
a
de
por
