Spanish Prepositions: Why They're Confusing (And How to Use Prepositions Like a Native)

Look, if you're learning Spanish and prepositions are kicking your ass, you're not alone. Every Spanish learner hits this wall—you think you've got "en" figured out, then you see it used three different ways in the same paragraph. You memorize that "por" means "for," then someone tells you "para" also means "for." What the hell?

Here's the thing: Spanish prepositions don't work like English prepositions. At all. And the way most courses teach them—giant lists with English translations, random example sentences, zero context—actually makes it harder to use Spanish prepositions correctly.

Let me break down what's actually going on with these connecting words and how to actually learn Spanish prepositions without losing your mind.

Why Spanish Prepositions Mess With Your Head

The core problem is that Spanish and English conceptualize relationships between two things differently. A preposition in Spanish doesn't just translate word-for-word to a preposition in English—the whole system works differently depending on the context.

Take "en." In English, we distinguish between "in" (inside something), "on" (on top of something), and "at" (a specific location). Spanish doesn't make that distinction. The Spanish preposition "en" covers all three:

Your brain wants there to be a 1:1 match between English and Spanish. There isn't one. Spanish has 23 simple prepositions, and each Spanish preposition does multiple jobs compared to its English "equivalent."

This is why memorizing translation lists doesn't work. You'll see "de = of, from, about" and think "okay, I'll just swap them in." Then you run into "Soy de España" (I'm from Spain) and "los zapatos de Jose" (Jose's shoes) and realize the translation completely changes.

The Common Spanish Prepositions You Actually Need First

Most textbooks dump all 23 prepositions on you at once. Don't do that to yourself. Focus on the most common prepositions that show up constantly:

De (of/from) This is literally the most frequent word in the Spanish language. "De" is one of those prepositions that handles possession, origin, material, and shows up in tons of compound phrases. It's used to indicate ownership (like "of" or possessive 's in English) and to show where something comes from.

One critical rule: when "de" appears before the definite article "el," they merge into "del." Not optional.

When you use prepositions in Spanish with "de," remember it can mean "of," "from," or "about" depending on the context. That's just how this preposition in Spanish works.

A (to/at) This Spanish preposition indicates movement, time, and—this is weird for English speakers—it marks when the direct object (the noun or pronoun receiving the action) is a person. This is called the "personal a" and it doesn't have an English translation:

Same merging rule: "a + el = al"

En (in/on/at) Your catch-all location preposition. If you're talking about being somewhere (not moving to somewhere), "en" is probably your answer. This preposition can be used for location, time, and manner—it has multiple meanings.

Master these core prepositions first. They'll cover maybe 60% of the Spanish prepositions you encounter in everyday Spanish.

Common Spanish Prepositions of Time (and Why Time in Spanish Is Weird)

Prepositions of time in Spanish don't match English patterns. Native Spanish speakers use different prepositions depending on whether you're talking about a specific moment or a duration.

Durante (during/for) shows duration:

Hasta (until/up to) marks endpoints:

A for specific times:

En for months, years, seasons:

The good thing about Spanish is that once you see these patterns enough in prepositional phrases, they start to feel natural. But you can't learn Spanish prepositions from a list of Spanish words—you need to see them in actual Spanish phrases from native speakers.

The Por vs. Para Nightmare (Two Prepositions That Break Everyone)

Alright, let's talk about the thing that breaks every intermediate Spanish learner's brain.

Both "por" and "para" can translate to "for" in English. But they're not interchangeable, and using the wrong one changes your meaning completely. This is essential Spanish grammar that trips up even advanced Spanish learners.

The simplest way I've found to think about it: por = past/reason, para = future/purpose.

Por is about causes, reasons, things that already happened:

Para is about goals, destinations, things you're aiming toward:

These prepositions are used differently, and certain prepositions like "por" and "para" require practice to master. Spanish speakers in Spanish-speaking countries will understand you even if you mix them up, but getting them right makes you sound way more fluent.

(If you want to dive deeper into another confusing pair, we've got a whole post breaking down porque vs. por qué that covers similar territory.)

Prepositions of Place (Where Things Actually Are)

Spanish has specific ways to use prepositions to describe location. These common prepositions in Spanish allow you to connect objects to their positions:

Basic Spanish prepositions of place:

Compound prepositional phrases:

A prepositional phrase in Spanish works like English—you've got the preposition plus a noun or pronoun. "Encima de la mesa" (on top of the table) is a prepositional phrase where "encima de" is the preposition and "la mesa" is the noun.

These prepositions can be used with any noun, verb, or adjective that needs location context. The Spanish language is pretty flexible here.

How to Actually Use Spanish Prepositions (Without Memorizing Lists)

Here's what doesn't work: making flashcards with "de = of, from, about" and drilling them. Your brain can't retain that because language learning doesn't work that way.

Here's what does work: seeing Spanish prepositions in context, repeatedly, until your brain recognizes the patterns.

You don't need to consciously memorize that "pensar" (a verb) takes "en" (pienso en mi futuro). You need to see "pienso en" enough times in actual Spanish content that it sounds right, and "pienso de" sounds wrong.

This is why input matters so much. When you're reading Spanish articles, watching Spanish shows, listening to Spanish podcasts—you're not just learning vocabulary. You're absorbing how to use prepositions in Spanish naturally. Your brain picks up on "esperar a" (to wait for someone) not through memorization but through exposure.

The other key: verb + preposition combinations. Spanish verbs pair with specific prepositions, and they don't match the English pattern. "Depender de" (depend on), "soñar con" (dream about), "consistir en" (consist of). These Spanish phrases work as units.

If you're just getting started in Spanish, don't stress about learning every preposition. Focus on the most common Spanish prepositions (de, a, en, con, sin) and let the rest come gradually as you consume more content.

Understanding Simple Prepositions vs. Compound Phrases

The Spanish language has two main types: simple prepositions (one word) and compound expressions (two or more words that function together).

Simple prepositions are your basic connecting words:

Prepositional phrases (locuciones preposicionales) combine multiple words:

Prepositional pronouns are another thing—when you use "con" (with) plus "mí" (me) or "ti" (you), they become "conmigo" and "contigo." These special forms are used to connect the preposition directly to the pronoun without getting weird.

The list of Spanish prepositions is finite—23 official ones—which means you can actually master Spanish prepositions over time. Unlike verbs with endless conjugations, the common uses of each preposition stay consistent.

Learn More Spanish Grammar Through Real Content

The biggest mistake Spanish learners make is treating prepositions like regular vocabulary—something you can just memorize and check off a list.

Prepositions are function words. They're the connective tissue that allows you to connect words in a sentence. You learn them the same way native speakers learned them: by hearing them used correctly thousands of times until the patterns become automatic.

That's why learning through immersion—watching shows you actually want to watch, reading articles about topics you care about—beats the hell out of textbook exercises. You're not just seeing "por la mañana" once in a workbook. You're seeing it in Netflix subtitles, in news articles, in song lyrics, over and over.

And yeah, you'll make mistakes. You'll use "en" when you should've used "a." You'll mix up por and para. That's fine. Spanish speakers will understand you, and you'll self-correct over time as you hear more natural Spanish from Spanish-speaking countries.

The subjunctive might be the grammar nightmare that gets all the attention, but Spanish prepositions are the thing that actually trips you up in daily conversation when you're trying to speak Spanish. The good news? With enough input—real Spanish from real sources—they start to click without you even trying.

If you want to actually absorb these preposition patterns instead of grinding through textbook drills, that's where Migaku comes in. The browser extension works with Netflix, YouTube, basically any site with Spanish content. You're watching a show, you see "Estoy esperando a mi amigo" in the subtitles, you can instantly look up why it's "a" and not "por" without breaking the flow. Every lookup gets saved to your spaced repetition deck automatically.

That's how you learn Spanish prepositions—in context, repeatedly, while doing something you'd want to do anyway. Not from lists. Not from exercises. From actual Spanish being used the way native speakers use it. You'll pick up basic Spanish first, then gradually work toward more advanced Spanish as you keep consuming content you enjoy.

You can learn Spanish with our 10-day free trial. No credit card needed, you just sign up and start watching stuff in Spanish with better tools.