Small words

Prepositions, conjunctions, pronouns and question words.

159 of 159

a
to, at
A plus el becomes al. It also goes before a person as the object: Veo a Juan.
Voy a la playa.
I'm going to the beach.
a causa de
because of
Cerraron la escuela a causa de la tormenta.
They closed the school because of the storm.
a lo largo de
along, throughout
Caminamos a lo largo de la playa.
We walked along the beach.
a menos que
unless
Always takes the subjunctive.
Voy a la playa a menos que llueva.
I'm going to the beach unless it rains.
a partir de
starting from
A partir de mañana, abrimos a las ocho.
Starting tomorrow, we open at eight.
a pesar de
in spite of, despite
Salimos a pesar de la lluvia.
We went out despite the rain.
a qué hora
at what time
¿A qué hora sale el tren?
What time does the train leave?
a quién
to whom, whom
¿A quién llamaste?
Who did you call?
a través de
through, across
Lo supe a través de una amiga.
I found out through a friend.
acerca de
about, concerning
Hablamos acerca de la boda.
We talked about the wedding.
además de
besides, in addition to
Además de inglés, habla francés.
Besides English, she speaks French.
adónde
where to
¿Adónde vas?
Where are you going?
al lado de
next to
Mi casa está al lado de la escuela.
My house is next to the school.
algo
something, anything
¿Quieres algo de tomar?
Do you want something to drink?
alguien
someone, anyone
Alguien tocó la puerta.
Someone knocked on the door.
alguno
alguna, algunos, algunas
some, any
Shortens to algún before a masculine noun.
¿Alguno de ustedes habla inglés?
Do any of you speak English?
alrededor de
around
Hay árboles alrededor de la casa.
There are trees around the house.
ante
before, in the presence of
El abogado habló ante el juez.
The lawyer spoke before the judge.
antes de
before
Lávate las manos antes de comer.
Wash your hands before eating.
antes de que
before (with a new subject)
Always takes the subjunctive.
Llámame antes de que salgas.
Call me before you leave.
aquel
aquella, aquellos, aquellas
that over there
For things far from both people.
Aquel edificio es nuevo.
That building over there is new.
aquello
that thing over there
¿Qué es aquello en el cielo?
What's that up in the sky?
así que
so
Llovió, así que nos quedamos.
It rained, so we stayed.
aunque
although, even if
Subjunctive for even if, indicative for although.
Voy a ir aunque llueva.
I'm going even if it rains.
bajo
under, beneath
Dormimos bajo las estrellas.
We slept under the stars.
cada cuánto
how often
¿Cada cuánto vas al médico?
How often do you go to the doctor?
cada uno
each one
Cada uno paga lo suyo.
Each one pays their own share.
cerca de
near
Vivo cerca de la playa.
I live near the beach.
como
since, as, like
Cómo with an accent asks how.
Como llovía, nos quedamos en casa.
Since it was raining, we stayed home.
cómo
how
¿Cómo te llamas?
What's your name?
con
with
With mí and ti it becomes conmigo and contigo.
Vivo con mi abuela.
I live with my grandmother.
con quién
with whom
¿Con quién vives?
Who do you live with?
con tal de que
as long as, provided that
Always takes the subjunctive.
Te lo presto con tal de que me lo devuelvas.
I'll lend it to you as long as you give it back.
conmigo
with me
¿Vienes conmigo?
Are you coming with me?
consigo
with himself, with herself
Siempre lleva el pasaporte consigo.
He always carries his passport with him.
contigo
with you
Quiero hablar contigo.
I want to talk with you.
contra
against
Cuba jugó contra Venezuela.
Cuba played against Venezuela.
cuál
plural cuáles
which one, what
Use it before es when asking for one item out of many.
¿Cuál es tu número?
What's your number?
cualquiera
anyone, whichever
Shortens to cualquier before a noun.
Cualquiera puede aprender esto.
Anyone can learn this.
cuando
when (not in a question)
Takes the subjunctive when talking about the future. Cuándo with an accent asks when.
Te llamo cuando llegue.
I'll call you when I get there.
cuándo
when
¿Cuándo llega tu hermana?
When does your sister arrive?
cuánto
cuánta
how much
¿Cuánto cuesta el pasaje?
How much is the ticket?
cuántos
cuántas
how many
¿Cuántos hermanos tienes?
How many siblings do you have?
cuyo
cuya, cuyos, cuyas
whose (not in a question)
Agrees with the thing owned, not the owner.
Es el hombre cuyo perro se perdió.
He's the man whose dog got lost.
de
of, from
De plus el becomes del.
Soy de Ponce.
I'm from Ponce.
de dónde
where from
¿De dónde eres?
Where are you from?
de modo que
so, so that
Hablé claro, de modo que todos entendieron.
I spoke clearly, so everyone understood.
de parte de
on behalf of, from
Te traigo esto de parte de mi madre.
I'm bringing you this from my mother.
de qué
about what, of what
¿De qué hablan?
What are they talking about?
de quién
whose
¿De quién es este carro?
Whose car is this?
debajo de
under, below
El gato está debajo de la cama.
The cat is under the bed.
debido a
due to
El vuelo salió tarde debido a la lluvia.
The flight left late due to the rain.
delante de
in front of
El taxi paró delante de la casa.
The taxi stopped in front of the house.
dentro de
inside, within
Vuelvo dentro de una hora.
I'll be back within an hour.
desde
from, since
Vivo aquí desde enero.
I've lived here since January.
desde cuándo
since when
¿Desde cuándo vives aquí?
How long have you lived here?
desde que
since (with a verb)
Vivo sola desde que murió mi esposo.
I've lived alone since my husband died.
después de
after
Salimos después de cenar.
We went out after dinner.
después de que
after (with a new subject)
Comimos después de que llegaron.
We ate after they arrived.
detrás de
behind
El patio está detrás de la cocina.
The yard is behind the kitchen.
donde
where (not in a question)
Dónde with an accent asks where.
Esa es la casa donde nací.
That's the house where I was born.
dónde
where
¿Dónde está el baño?
Where's the bathroom?
durante
during
Dormí durante el vuelo.
I slept during the flight.
e
and (before an i sound)
Mis padres e hijos viven aquí.
My parents and children live here.
él
he
El without an accent means the.
Él es mi hermano.
He's my brother.
el que
la que, los que, las que
the one who
El que llegue primero, gana.
The one who arrives first wins.
ella
she
Ella es mi prima.
She's my cousin.
ellas
they (all women)
Ellas cantan muy bien.
They sing very well.
ellos
they
Used for mixed groups too.
Ellos llegaron ayer.
They arrived yesterday.
en
in, on, at
Las llaves están en la mesa.
The keys are on the table.
en contra de
against, opposed to
Votó en contra de la ley.
He voted against the law.
en cuanto
as soon as
Te aviso en cuanto llegue.
I'll let you know as soon as I arrive.
en lugar de
in place of, instead of
Fui yo en lugar de mi hermana.
I went in place of my sister.
en vez de
instead of
Toma agua en vez de refresco.
Drink water instead of soda.
encima de
on top of
Deja la caja encima de la mesa.
Leave the box on top of the table.
enfrente de
across from
La tienda está enfrente de la iglesia.
The store is across from the church.
entre
between, among
La farmacia está entre el banco y la iglesia.
The pharmacy is between the bank and the church.
es decir
that is, I mean
Son mis suegros, es decir, los padres de mi esposa.
They're my in-laws, that is, my wife's parents.
ese
esa, esos, esas
that
Ese hombre es mi jefe.
That man is my boss.
eso
that thing
For something unnamed. It never changes form.
Eso no es verdad.
That isn't true.
este
esta, estos, estas
this
Este carro es de mi tío.
This car is my uncle's.
esto
this thing
For something unnamed. It never changes form.
¿Qué es esto?
What's this?
excepto
except
Trabajo todos los días excepto el domingo.
I work every day except Sunday.
frente a
facing, across from
El hotel está frente a la playa.
The hotel faces the beach.
fuera de
outside of
Vive fuera de la ciudad.
She lives outside the city.
gracias a
thanks to
Gracias a mi tía, conseguí trabajo.
Thanks to my aunt, I got a job.
hacia
toward
Camina hacia el mar.
Walk toward the sea.
hasta
until, up to, as far as
Trabajo hasta las cinco.
I work until five.
hasta cuándo
until when, how long
¿Hasta cuándo te quedas?
How long are you staying?
hasta que
until (with a verb)
Espera hasta que llegue tu padre.
Wait until your father gets here.
junto a
next to, beside
Se sentó junto a la ventana.
She sat next to the window.
la
her, it
La llamé anoche.
I called her last night.
las
them (all women or feminine things)
Las compré ayer.
I bought them yesterday.
le
to him, to her, to you (formal)
Becomes se before lo or la: se lo di.
Le di el regalo.
I gave him the gift.
lejos de
far from
La finca está lejos de la ciudad.
The farm is far from the city.
les
to them, to you all
Becomes se before lo or la: se lo dije.
Les escribí una carta.
I wrote them a letter.
lo
him, it
Lo vi ayer en el mercado.
I saw him at the market yesterday.
lo cual
which
Llegó tarde, lo cual me molestó.
He arrived late, which annoyed me.
lo que
what, the thing that
No entiendo lo que dices.
I don't understand what you're saying.
los
them
Los vi en la playa.
I saw them at the beach.
me
me, to me
Mi madre me llama cada día.
My mother calls me every day.
mediante
by means of
Resolvieron el problema mediante el diálogo.
They solved the problem through dialogue.
mi
plural mis
my
Mi casa es tu casa.
My house is your house.
mí
me (after a preposition)
Mi without an accent means my.
Este regalo es para mí.
This gift is for me.
mientras
while
Escucho música mientras cocino.
I listen to music while I cook.
mientras que
whereas
Yo cocino, mientras que él limpia.
I cook, whereas he cleans.
mío
mía, míos, mías
mine
Este libro es mío.
This book is mine.
nada
nothing, anything
Spanish double negatives are correct.
No quiero nada.
I don't want anything.
nadie
nobody, no one
After the verb it needs no first: no vino nadie.
No vino nadie.
Nobody came.
ni
nor, neither
Also used in pairs: ni tú ni yo.
No tengo carro ni bicicleta.
I have neither a car nor a bike.
ninguno
ninguna
none, not any
Shortens to ningún before a masculine noun.
Ninguno de mis primos vino.
None of my cousins came.
nos
us, to us
Nos invitaron a la boda.
They invited us to the wedding.
nosotras
we (all women)
Nosotras vamos a la playa.
We're going to the beach.
nosotros
we
Nosotros vivimos en Caracas.
We live in Caracas.
nuestro
nuestra, nuestros, nuestras
our, ours
Nuestro barrio es tranquilo.
Our neighborhood is quiet.
o
or
Becomes u before a word starting with an o sound: siete u ocho.
¿Quieres café o té?
Do you want coffee or tea?
o sea
in other words, I mean
Llega a las ocho, o sea, en una hora.
She arrives at eight, in other words, in an hour.
para
for, in order to, by a deadline
For purpose, recipient, destination and deadlines. See the por vs. para guide.
Este regalo es para ti.
This gift is for you.
para que
so that
Always takes the subjunctive.
Te lo explico para que entiendas.
I'll explain it so that you understand.
para qué
what for
¿Para qué necesitas el dinero?
What do you need the money for?
pero
but
Es caro, pero es bueno.
It's expensive, but it's good.
por
for, by, through, because of
For cause, exchange, duration and movement through a place. See the por vs. para guide.
Caminamos por el parque.
We walked through the park.
por lo tanto
therefore
No hay luz, por lo tanto, no hay clases.
There's no power, therefore there are no classes.
por qué
why
Two words with an accent. The answer uses porque.
¿Por qué estás triste?
Why are you sad?
porque
because
One word, no accent. Por qué, as two words with an accent, asks why.
No fui porque estaba enfermo.
I didn't go because I was sick.
pues
well, since
Pues, no sé qué decirte.
Well, I don't know what to tell you.
puesto que
since, given that
Puesto que no vino, empezamos sin él.
Since he didn't come, we started without him.
que
that, which, who (not in a question)
Can't be dropped the way English drops that. Qué with an accent asks a question.
Creo que va a llover.
I think it's going to rain.
qué
what, which
Question words always carry an accent, even inside a sentence: no sé qué quiere.
¿Qué quieres comer?
What do you want to eat?
qué tal
how about, how's
¿Qué tal el viaje?
How was the trip?
quien
plural quienes
who, whom (not in a question)
Quién with an accent asks who.
Ella es la mujer con quien hablé.
She's the woman I spoke with.
quién
plural quiénes
who
¿Quién es ese hombre?
Who is that man?
salvo
except, save for
Todos vinieron salvo Ana.
Everyone came except Ana.
se
himself, herself, themselves, each other
Also makes general statements: aquí se habla español.
Se lava las manos.
He washes his hands.
según
according to
Según mi madre, va a llover.
According to my mother, it's going to rain.
si
if
Sí with an accent means yes.
Si llueve, no salimos.
If it rains, we won't go out.
sin
without
Tomo el café sin azúcar.
I take my coffee without sugar.
sin embargo
however, nevertheless
Estudió mucho; sin embargo, no aprobó.
He studied a lot; however, he didn't pass.
sin que
without (with a new subject)
Always takes the subjunctive.
Salió sin que nadie lo viera.
He left without anyone seeing him.
sino
but rather (after a negative)
Corrects a negative statement. Use pero everywhere else.
No es cubano, sino dominicano.
He's not Cuban but Dominican.
sobre
on, about, over
El libro es sobre Cuba.
The book is about Cuba.
su
plural sus
his, her, their, your (formal)
Su hija vive en Lima.
Her daughter lives in Lima.
suyo
suya, suyos, suyas
his, hers, theirs, yours (formal)
Ese carro es suyo.
That car is his.
tan pronto como
as soon as
Te llamo tan pronto como pueda.
I'll call you as soon as I can.
te
you (informal object)
Te veo mañana.
I'll see you tomorrow.
ti
you (after a preposition)
Pienso mucho en ti.
I think about you a lot.
todos
everyone
todas
Todos llegaron temprano.
Everyone arrived early.
tras
after, behind
Tras la tormenta, salió el sol.
After the storm, the sun came out.
tu
plural tus
your (informal)
Tú with an accent means you.
¿Dónde está tu hermano?
Where's your brother?
tú
you (informal)
Tu without an accent means your.
¿Tú vienes a la fiesta?
Are you coming to the party?
tuyo
tuya, tuyos, tuyas
yours (informal)
¿Este celular es tuyo?
Is this cell phone yours?
u
or (before an o sound)
Tengo siete u ocho primos.
I have seven or eight cousins.
uno
one, you in general
Uno nunca sabe.
You never know.
usted
you (formal)
Takes the él form of the verb.
¿Usted es el doctor?
Are you the doctor?
ustedes
you all
Used for every group in Latin America, formal or not. Takes the ellos form of the verb.
¿Ustedes son de aquí?
Are you all from here?
vos
you (voseo)
Replaces tú in Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay and parts of Central America and Colombia.
¿Vos sos de Buenos Aires?
Are you from Buenos Aires?
y
and
Becomes e before a word starting with an i sound: padres e hijos.
Quiero arroz y frijoles.
I want rice and beans.
ya que
since, seeing as
Ya que estás aquí, ayúdame.
Since you're here, help me.
yo
I
Usually dropped, because the verb already shows the person. Keep it for emphasis.
Yo trabajo de noche.
I work at night.