When someone apologizes for some wrong done to another, it’s as common in Mexico to hear pido una disculpa (I ask you to forgive me) as it is to hear ofrezco una disculpa (I offer an apology).

Disputes arise with the expression pedir una disculpa. Some, including the Spanish Royal Academy (RAE), say that it can mean ask to be forgiven or excused, while the Mexican Language Academy (Academia Mexicana de la Lengua) says una disculpa —in this sense, an apology— can only be demanded by the offended party and offered by the offender.

Each draws a different conclusion using the same definition of disculpa.

The Mexican academy argues that since disculpa isn’t a precise synonym of perdón (pardon or forgiveness), it shouldn’t be substituted for it. The RAE suggests that if the verb disculpar can be used to mean to ask forgiveness, then the noun disculpa can also be a synonym of pardon or forgiveness.

With two such authorities in disagreement on matters pertaining to the correct use of language, the best mere mortals can hope to do is take a look at (or listen to) how Spanish speakers in Mexico go about apologizing for their misdeeds or negligence in daily life.

Starting with an easy one. You bump into someone on the Metro or on a crowded street. “¡Perdón!” or “disculpe” —(sorry!)— is usual, and enough. Often both parties will apologize in this way at the same time, in which case one may assume the disculpa is simultaneously requested and granted. Note “disculpe” is the polite or formal form of the imperative, implying usted whereas the informal form of the verb would be “disculpa.”

For more egregious offenses, one is more likely to ask for out and out forgiveness than to offer an excuse. “Perdóname” or “te pido perdón,” although “discúlpame” is also common. “Lo siento” is another way of saying I’m sorry.

While there is no dispute among Spanish speakers that ofrecer una disculpa is correct, to the English-speaking mind (and to the extent that language affects our way of thinking, if anyone would like to go down that rabbit hole) it can sound a bit like the offender offering to forgive himself or herself.

But se disculpó means the person apologized, not that the person forgave themselves. Or as RAE notes above, disculparse in this sense can mean to justify, and it gives the example of someone blaming the traffic for their tardiness to some engagement.

If this PinPoint Spanish article creates more confusion than it clears up, de antemano una disculpa. 

Speaking Spanish gives you access to the local culture and enables you to engage with people in ways that are simply not possible through third party translation and will enhance every experience you encounter in Mexico.

Conversation is the key to language fluency

It’s the everyday interactions with other people that give us the most value and most pleasure from being able to communicate in another language.  Developing your ability to converse in Spanish requires a regular exercise of your vocabulary, and confidence.

The online course offered by our associate is helpful when

• you visit Mexico frequently and want to converse in Spanish for leisure, lifestyle, or for work;
• you’re already living in Mexico and want to improve your Spanish language conversation skills;
• you plan to move to Mexico and you’d like to arrive prepared to converse more confidently.

You can choose from pricing plans depending on how many lessons you want per week.

Each course is tailored based on your current skill level and language learning goals, and your free assessment also includes a lesson test-run over a video call.

True beginner

When you want to get started speaking Spanish for the first time, a coach will help you to build a solid foundation and get you conversing in Spanish.  You will be speaking Spanish from day one of the course.  This is ideal for those who have never studied Spanish before or those who studied it many years ago but don’t remember much, or anything, from those studies.

False beginner

When you’re someone who’s had previous experiences with trying to learn Spanish but still can’t string a sentence together, this course can help you to retrieve the information you’ve stored over the years, unlock what you already know, and develop new vocabulary and skills while building confidence speaking Spanish in everyday situations.   It’s ideal when you understand more Spanish than you can speak or lack confidence when you need to express yourself in Spanish.

Intermediate learner

When you have a good basic grasp of Spanish, but you sense that you’ve reached a plateau you can’t overcome or need to develop confidence to speak Spanish with strangers or in public, this course can help you to make material advances in your current Spanish language capabilities.  Most language students get stuck in a loop and need some help at some point, and a coach will assess your current level with a view to structuring a course to help you reach your goals.  This is ideal when you’ve tried other courses that don’t seem to work, or sense that your vocabulary and sentence structure need to be sharper or more refined.

Intermediate-advanced learner

When you’re seeking to improve your Spanish language capabilities for specific purposes, for example, as part of a career development plan or due to some other specialized interest, your intermediate-advanced skills can benefit by having the course structured to your more advanced needs or professional goals.   For example, you might need to learn Spanish in the context of medical, scientific, business, educational, or technical disciplines.  This course is ideal for those who have a decent command of the Spanish language, but who want to sharpen their abilities and gain others’ trust when speaking in Spanish, especially in formal or business situations.

Someone who wants to learn Spanish for living in Mexico

If you’re living in Mexico, or plan to make a move here in the future, this online course can also help you to improve your Spanish language skills to face everyday lifestyle situations in Mexico.  Language lifestyle conversations are helpful when you are already living here and want to improve your language skills, or you visit Mexico frequently, or plan to move to Mexico in future—so that you can arrive prepared with language and vocabulary skills that will enable you to converse confidently in lifestyle situations you’ll encounter when you’re here.

Every course is tailored to your current skill level

Every course is tailor-made for each student.

Request a free consultation today and our language associate will take the time to assess your current language skill level on a video call and talk about your goals and intentions in regard to improving your Spanish language conversation skills, with no obligation.

Your free assessment also includes a lesson test-run via video-call, and if you enjoy the format you can choose to sign-up for a course that will be tailored to your current Spanish language proficiency and language learning goals.

Month-to-month coaching plans are available from US$140 per month; and you can cancel anytime.

Book your free consultation and lesson test-run, with no obligation

Turning the common in to the extraordinary

In its superlative sense, “azo” makes common things uncommon: carrazo (carro) is a very expensive, or souped up car; tipazo (tipo) is a very nice, or amiable, or helpful guy; and of course, golazo is a great goal—even if it counts the same toward the score as an ordinary, run-of-the mill goal.

Superlative endings can be added to practically any noun and some take “ón” or “ona” to do this.  So casona is a large house or  mansion, “programón” a brilliant program, or a flop if used sarcastically.

Some endings can describe an entire action

With some nouns —not too many— either suffix could be used, the only rule being whether or not it sounds right.

But the ending “azo” can also mean a blow or other action effected by means of whatever noun it’s added to.

The grammatical implications in this case are less clear but the meanings once you get used to hearing it are easy enough to follow.

Some examples

• Any increase in gasoline prices, in a country where previous decades of state control of oil had led to peculiar views about the the commercial properties of fuel, is known as a “gasolinazo“—a blow delivered by means of gasoline prices.
• An untimely “sponsored” newspaper article that uncovers some untoward business deal or seeks to sully the reputation of an otherwise squeaky clean politician is known as a “periodicazo” (from periódico for newspaper).  Swatting a fly with a rolled up paper is a different kind of periodicazo.
• Carpetazo (carpeta—clip folder) expresses the squirreling away of a sticky matter to be dealt with later—later being an open-ended term tending toward infinity.
• The ending “azo” can also refer to a major crash or accident: trenazo, camionazo, or avionazo, for example.

Post script: The initial idea for this article came from some comments made by a colleague: plagiazo?

Diminutives as euphemisms…

Diminutives are also used as a form of euphemism, especially for guilty pleasures.  A dieter may go for “taquitos” rather than tacos, or round off a meal with a “pastelito” instead of pastel, while a drinker could order a “cubita” (a little rum and coke) if it looks a bit early for a cuba, or open the appetite with a “tequilita.”

…except for now

An exception to this rule is “ahorita”—at least as it is often used in Mexico.  As the diminutive of “ahora” —now— technically it should mean “right now,” as in “ahora mismo,” insofar as it suggests that less time ought to elapse between the promise and the fulfillment.

But things don’t necessarily work like that.  To start with, Mexico isn’t particularly demanding about punctuality.  Although timely arrivals are regarded as a virtue, excuses for tardiness are often treated with indulgence, especially if traffic is involved.  So “ahorita voy,” means I’m on my way —or soon will be— but gives no fixed time.

A parent giving a child orders to clean their room, or get in off the street, would usually say “ahora” to mean right now, whereas “ahorita” could mean don’t be too long about it.  If the order is for this very second, the second-degree diminutive —ahoritita— may be used, leaving no doubt as to the urgency.

Other forceful options for right away, or at once, are “de inmediato,” or “en este instante.”

“En seguida” can also mean now, but is more like forthwith, suggesting it could be the next thing on the list, or to be done immediately.

“Ahora” also has its shades of meaning.  If your plumber says he will come round “ahora” —ahora voy— to fix your dripping tap, it usually refers to “today,” not that particular moment.

When asking ‘when’ doesn’t work

Native English speakers occasionally use “when” if asking what time someone will arrive or something is scheduled.  This doesn’t work in Mexico.  “¿Cuándo?” will be understood to refer to the day, the week, the month, or the year, but not the time.  For this you have to be specific: “¿a qué hora?”

Of course, the answer could be “ahorita” and you’ll be back where you started.

“Ya mero” is another versatile expression meaning soon—which can mean any second now, any minute now, or even any day now.  In this case the diminutive “ya merito” suggests that the undefined time will be shorter than the undefined time in “ya mero.”

Then, a final twist

The word for “then” —luego— contains a twist of its own in Mexico when the word is said twice.  If someone completed a task or request in short order, they are said to have done so “luego luego” —fui al mecánico y luego luego me atendió— means the person was attended to immediately.

Some adjectives go before the noun, others can go before or after, and still others change their meaning depending on whether they precede or follow the noun.

One more or less reliable rule-of-thumb is that adjectives which differentiate an object from others of its kind —el coche azul (the blue car), la mesa redonda (the round table)— are placed after the noun; while those that underscore the quality of a thing precede the noun—una gran idea (a great idea), un perfecto caballero (a perfect gentleman), qué lindos niños  (what lovely children).

Some examples of adjectives that precede the noun are those of quantity or number.  Los primeros días del mes (the first days of the month), el cuarto poder (the fourth estate).

Adjectives of color, shape, and status almost always go after the noun, although even here there is poetic license. Others can go quite comfortably before or after—La próxima semana (next week) or la semana próxima are equally acceptable. Likewise, una ola enorme (a giant wave) or una enorme ola are both correct.

There are also adjectives that have different meanings depending whether they are applied before or after the noun they modify:

Es la única lámpara que tengo (It’s the only lamp I have); Esa lámpara es única (That lamp is unique);

Él es un perfecto tonto (He is an unmitigated fool); Fue un día perfecto (It was a perfect day).

En la tienda venden puro jugo (In the shop they only sell juice); En la tienda venden jugo puro (In the shop they sell pure [unadulterated] juice).

Set expressions such as bellas artes (fine arts) have the adjective first. Buenas noches (less common, but also used, is buena noche) is good night, while Noche Buena means Christmas Eve.

In some cases, choosing whether to put the adjective before or after the noun can depend on whether you want to impress upon the listener the thing itself or the quality of it. Un tremendo ruido (a tremendous noise) suggests noise is objectionable, while un ruido tremendo stresses how loud it was.  This is somewhat subjective, although writers —and especially poets— will move the order around for effect.

When several adjectives are applied, they can be grouped before, after, or on either side of the noun, usually following the same rules and patterns as single adjectives, although it’s unusual to string several together as you would in English without “y” in-between: It was a cold windy day—Fue un día frío y ventoso; Beautiful red leaves— Hermosas hojas rojas; The last gray autumn days—Los últimos días grises de otoño.

As examples here indicate, adjectives follow the same endings rules as nouns for masculine and feminine, singular and plural. One irregularity: Mi tercer aniversario—My third anniversary; but Rey Ricardo Tercero de Inglaterra—King Richard the Third of England.  El primer capítulo—The first chapter; but el capítulo primero.

Spelling it out for sign-writers

The practical thing to do when making a sign for a shop or even a street stall would be to go to the professional sign-makers; these are usually themselves small businesses that display the word rótulos somewhere out front. It’s not necessarily a guarantee that the sign will be spelled correctly, but in the event of a mistake it can be taken back and complained about.

However, people who are bad at spelling usually either don’t know they are, or don’t care, at least if the many opinion forums and comments left at the bottom of news articles online are anything to go by.

It’s not limited to the street stalls and markets, or thousands of mini business establishments. People who work in large offices find the same thing, and although spellcheck may alleviate some of the symptoms, it could also contribute to perpetuating the cause.

Some examples of dubious spelling

Common spelling errors in Spanish are the use of  ‘s’ instead of ‘z’ or ‘c,’—and vice-versa; the mixing up of the ‘v’ and the ‘b’—which are pronounced more or less the same; and double ‘l’ for ‘y’ and leaving out the silent ‘h.’

For example:

• No Estacionarce (No Parking) instead of No Estacionarse
• Embases (containers) instead of envases (one Spanish rule is that ‘m’ always goes before ‘b’, and ‘n’ before ‘v’)
• Fivra de vidrio (fiber glass) instead of fibra de vidrio
• Sacamos torniyos instead of tornillos (we remove screws)

There isn’t really anything funny about other people’s spelling mistakes, although some of the signs can be amusing, particularly the unusual ones.

One thing bears some thinking about as you make a mental list of misspelled signs: do we derive a secret enjoyment from other people’s spelling mistakes because they don’t know how to spell, or because we do?

A chance to learn fancy words in Spanish

If you read enough of them, you will also discover what appears to be a competition going on among the writers to see who can use the most fancy words, whose meaning is unknown to all but a select few.  These words in Mexico are known as palabras domingueras, or “Sunday words,” a reference to the tradition of Sunday best: best clothes, best behavior—and best words.

For the student of language, one option is to write down all the palabras domingueras encountered, look them up in a dictionary, and learn them by heart.  Many hard-sounding words will actually turn out to mean something very simple, eliciting a sound something like aish accompanied by an incredulous shaking of the head, while others will be so subtle in meaning that reference back to the article will be needed for context.

Spanish vocabulary in practice

But the exercise will, in time, equip the language buff with a veritable stock of palabras domingueras. Thus armed with the etymic implements of euphuistic battle —lots of words— it’s a matter of finding somewhere to put them to practice.

This is where the keyboard comes in, since the words won’t be found very useful in everyday conversation.  In polite company fancy vocabulary might draw blank stares or quizzical looks, while at home they are more likely to be treated to howls of laughter and weeks of teasing until you vow never, ever, to touch another dictionary as long as you live.

Newspapers as a source for fancy words

While most newspapers have a clear editorial line in favor of one side or the other, readers will usually find articles expressing both views on any given page.  To see what this commentary is about you could look, for example, here and here.

Out of stuff

No Hay, in Spanish, means “there isn’t any,” and in Mexico the term may be applied to almost anything, anytime you need or wish to acquire something.

For example, the term may be used to express:

• a dearth of foodstuffs, “No hay tortillas” (they’ve sold out of tortillas for today);
• stuff in general, “No hay lentes de contacto de esa dioptría” (the contact lenses you wear are not in stock);
• and even services, “No hay luz” (power cut).

Batch availability of foods and other goods

While the overall availability of all kinds of things is Mexico has improved significantly in recent times, in comparison to its northern neighbor, a continuous reliable supply of certain types of goods can still be a hit-and-miss affair here, even in some of the up-scale stores selling imported goods and where items on display this week might not be there again within a month—and might not ever return.

This inconsistent and ‘limited batch’ pattern of supply can sometimes be a source of frustration, in most part, because Murphy’s Law dictates that the infamous ‘No Hay’ will spring up at the precise moment when whatever isn’t available will cause you some inconvenience, and never when it really doesn’t matter.

The impact of No Hay

The ‘no hay’ effect may be mitigated with some forward planning, but it can never be completely avoided, for example:

• It could be that your car just broke down, and ‘no hay’ applies to the very part it happens to need now.
• Perhaps the local store has run out of a key ingredient you need for tonight’s dinner party.
• The delicatessen cheese you eyed up in-passing at CostCo won’t be there next month.
• Perhaps you’ve been looking forward to eating tamales, and the restaurant you sit down at “doesn’t have any today.”

The impact of ‘no hay’ also depends upon where you are situated, how much energy you’re willing to expend in locating whatever it is you want or need, and what price you’re willing to pay to obtain it.

For example, if a store in Mexico City you go to says ‘no hay,’ there’s a high probability that some other place in the capital will have stock, if you’re willing to wear-out some boot leather (but more often, some tread on your car’s tires) to find it.

If you are in the provinces, ‘no hay’ could mean ‘no hay’ for hours, days, or weeks, —or ever— leaving you with little alternative but to try the next nearest ‘bigger’ town or city. Or Amazon.com.mx and its Latin American equivalent, MercadoLibre.com.mx.

Finding peace with No Hay

In the moment when it happens, ‘no hay’ may be frustrating, inconvenient or disappointing to your situation. Nonetheless, when you live in Mexico, the omnipresent ‘no hay’ will pay homage to your situations sooner or later.

A corollary hidden within ‘no hay‘ is that it presents an occasion to break a habitual pattern of buying the same things over and again—or taking things for granted. The situation thus invites you to make a different choice and perhaps try something else.

Part of the art of living in places like Mexico is that one comes to accept that, on some occasions, you just can’t—and that’s as it is. It’s part of the lifestyle tapestry here that encourages you to make peace with the fluid situations that will visit you, and ultimately with yourself.

Common terms for streets in Mexico

The most common term seen and used in Mexico is “calle” —street— with calle principal indicating a main route, usually crossing or connecting smaller streets adjacent.  The fancier avenida, or avenue, and even bulevar may also be employed when the need for distinction arises.

Camino, the equivalent of ‘road’ or ‘way’ in English, is less commonly seen and used in Mexico, and is a word that can also serve to describe a person’s journey: va en camino, he’s on his way—or distinctly, va por su camino which translates to ‘he’s making his own way (in life)’.

Callejón indicates a narrow road or alley, and retorno stipulates a dead-end or cul-de-sac, with the Spanish in this case more practical in letting the wanderer know there’s no point going there without a specific reason.  Retorno can also indicate a loop or opportunity to U-turn or double-back over a bridge or under a tunnel to cross-over to the other side of a road; on some roads it could also be a wide space within a camellón (median strip) reserved for that purpose.

Related to retorno is cerrada, which is oftentimes used to describe a private road with a dead-end; privada might also be used in this context.

Another term you’ll come across when driving in Mexico the word crucero which means junction.  Related to crucero is the word entronque, which means to connect, or merge.  Junctions are most often signed when they require additional precautions to be exercised, —for example, Entronque Peligroso— where a road merges with another on the left hand side of the adjoining highway (overtaking lane) instead of the (more-usual) merge lane on the right.

Freeways and tolled highways

Moving onto trunk roads, there are two ways of referring to a highway: carretera and autopista; and these are sometimes referred to (or signed on highways) as ‘Libre‘ (freeway) or ‘Cuota‘ (tollway), respectively.

Carretera is akin to the U.S. freeway and most often refers to the federally-funded interstate roads which connect main towns and cities, but may also refer to a primary trunk road around a town or city.  These are usually not tolled, and most are two-lane highways; some have stretches for overtaking slow vehicles.  You might see these signed as ‘Libre‘ on highways.

Autopista (and its related term, ‘cuota’) are words reserved to describe tolled interstate highways in Mexico—some of which run alongside, or nearby, carreteras federales. You might see these signed as ‘Cuota‘ on highways.

The toll fee is called peaje although tolled highways in Mexico are rarely if ever referred to using that word.

Streets alongside ocean scenes

Seaside resorts, and the roads or highways connecting them, have their costeras, or coast roads.  These describe streets or roads which can vary in size and importance, but which invariably run along the seafront.  Inside coastal towns alongside some costeras you may find el malecón—a pedestrian boardwalk or esplanade facing the waterfront, some of which might also include a lane for pedal-bikers, and those using skates and skateboards.

Miscellaneous street terms in Mexico

Some other related terms you may encounter in journey parlance here include:

• lateral, which refers to a parallel side road that may be situated alongside any main urban road, or carretera, or autopista, and separated by a camellón—a central reservation or median strip;
• libramientos, which can sometimes be part of a carretera or autopista refer to ‘relief roads,’ built specifically to route passing traffic away from, or around, a town or city center;
• periférico refers to a ring road (or beltway) around a town, city, or place;
• in Mexico City, the stretches of tolled elevated beltway raised primarily above the capital’s original beltway (anillo periferico) is colloquially referred to as El Segundo Piso.  You need a ‘Tag’ on your vehicle’s dashboard or windshield to use the electronically controlled gates which give drivers access to the tolled level of roadway;
• for those traveling on foot: footpaths, nature trails, and ancient pathways are commonly described as senderos, whereas formal pedestrian walkways, or shopping streets closed to traffic, are referred to as a paseo peatonal; and
• paseo that means a walk or a drive, and pasear means to go for a walk, or a ride, or a drive. The word pasear is somewhat more versatile than what the average dictionary can accommodate: it can also mean go out with no particular purpose or plan, maybe hang out at the mall, grab a coffee, browse the stores, watch a movie, or just wander about. It’s also used as a term to mean going away, being away, or having been away on vacation—voy/estoy/estuve de paseo.

Language opens your access to the culture

Language is a primary instrument that gives you access to a foreign culture, and being able to converse in Spanish —even at a basic conversational level— will make every experience you encounter in Mexico richer, and more meaningful to you.

Spanish is an important language that is widely spoken around the the world, and Mexican Spanish is polite, clear, and easy to understand.  The speed at which the language is spoken in Mexico is not as accelerated as it is Spain and some South American countries, and the pronunciation is softer, which makes the language easier to ‘pick-up’ and easier for beginners to learn.

PinPoint Spanish series shares valuable insights

PinPoint Spanish is an extensive series of articles which help you to study Mexican Spanish language usage and additionally, provide context and nuance of the language as it’s contemporarily spoken and applied in everyday situations across Mexico.

The series is an ideal study resource for beginners who want to get a wider perspective of the language beyond the basic mechanics and grammar, while intermediate and advanced students of the language will particularly enjoy the insights the articles share about the subtle nuances and everyday practical uses of Mexican Spanish.

Spanish language resources on Mexperience

Mexperience offers you knowledge and connections to help you learn and improve your Spanish language capabilities:

• Enjoy dozens of language insight articles through our PinPoint Spanish series
• Connect to our Learning Spanish section for more advice
• Find online Spanish courses to help you develop your conversation skills
• Discover language schools in Mexico where you can participate in a class in-person, or online

Two Spanish verbs ‘to know’

Of the two verbs to know, the irregular saber is generally applied to facts, and the almost regular conocer to people and places. There are areas, however, where the two overlap, and either verb could be used—languages, for example:

• él sabe español, means he knows Spanish, and
• él conoce el español means he knows, or is acquainted with, the Spanish language.

One way to determine whether conocer can be used is to test whether the phrase “is acquainted with,” could be substituted for “know.”

When applying conocer to people, the preposition a is used. So:

• conoce Cervantes, means he knows the work of the author of Don Quixote, while
• conoce a Cervantes would mean he knows the writer.

Saber is used for “to know how to,” for example:

• ellos saben nadar (they know how to swim), and
• ella sabe tocar el piano (she knows how to play the piano).

Two Spanish verbs ‘to have’

The two verbs “to have” are tener and haber, and both irregular.

• Tener is used to show possession, tengo dos perros (I have two dogs), and
• haber as the auxiliary verb for forming compound tenses, for example,
• hemos llegado por fin (we have arrived at last).

The expression hay, derived from haber, is used to say “there is” or “there are.”  Hubo or había mean “there was/were.”

The verb haber can also be used in some instances for “must,” “should,” or “ought to.” For example,

• ha de ser difícil, (it must be difficult), or,
• has de conocer esta regla, (you ought to know this rule).

Dealing with the imperative

For indicating an imperative, such as tenemos que tomar el camión (we have to take the bus),  tener is used when the subject is specific. Tengo que ir (I have to go), tienes que entender (you have to understand), but haber can be used when you want something done, don’t want to do it yourself, wish someone else would do it, but would rather not appear to be pushy. This is all possible with the not so subtle “hay que…” Hay que recoger la mesa means the table has to be cleared. This is also useful for broad statements like hay que tener paciencia. The English equivalent “one has to be patient” is somehow stilted in comparison.

This article reviews a selection of common prepositions found in everyday language conversations,  and learning to use these will help you to increase your ability to express yourself more fully in Spanish.

Uses of the Spanish preposition “a”

Spanish prepositions are generally less troublesome as there are no phrasal verbs to contend with, although there are some exceptions and one good example is the multi-purpose “a,” which means: “to,” “at,” and can even mean “from” or “for.”

When you buy something from someone, in Spanish you use “a” and not “de.”

• Le compré el coche a mi vecino (with the shortened “se lo compré“), can mean I bought the car from my neighbor, or I bought the car for my neighbor.
• Likewise, le compré flores a mi esposa, can mean I bought flowers for my wife, or I bought flowers from my wife.

The context is usually sufficient for an understanding, unless you’re dealing with someone with extraordinary habits in durable goods purchases, or who is married to a florist.

In the event of possible confusion, “para” can be used to stress “for.”  Es para ti —it’s for you— but it would be wrong to use “de” to stress “from.”

Using the prepositions “at” and “to” in Spanish

The words “at” and “to” are usually translated with the simple “a“:

• At six o’clock, a las seis.
• We’re going to school. Vamos a la escuela.

There are some exceptions, for example:

• At once, would be de una vez, or en este instante.
• The expression “at all” becomes del todo.

Uses of the Spanish preposition “en”

For in and on, the word “en” covers many of the bases, but there are exceptions.

• On the table. En la mesa.
• In the spring. En la primavera.
• Speak in Spanish. Habla en español.
• He was hit on the head. Le pegaron en la cabeza.

Sobre also means “on” and can be used to specify “on top of” if there could be some doubt between in and on, and en could be ambiguous.

For example, dejé la carta sobre el escritorio, meaning the letter was left on top of the desk and not in a drawer or a tray or an integrated filing cabinet.

Sobre also means on in the sense of “about:”

• Una discusión sobre política, or even
• Una discusión de política.
• But not una discusión en política.

Acerca de is another way of saying “about.” I want to speak to you about the Christmas party. Quiero hablar contigo acerca de la fiesta de Navidad.

Sobre can also mean “over.” El avión voló sobre la ciudad. The plane flew over the city.  

Uses of the Spanish preposition “de”

Arriba de and encima de are used for “over” and “above,” but can also mean “on.”

• Sus calificaciones están por encima de las de sus compañeros. Her grades are above those of her classmates.
• El cepillo está encima del tocador. The hairbrush is on the dresser.
• Los viajeros ya están arriba del tren. The travelers are already on the train.

Uses of the Spanish preposition “en”

For months and years, Spanish uses en, just as English uses “in.”

• It usually rains in July. Normalmente llueve en julio.
• I was born in 1985. Nací en 1985 (mil novecientos ochenta y cinco).

But for days, where English uses “on,” Spanish uses the definite article, and always masculine since the word día is one of those that ends in ‘a’ but is masculine.

• She arrived late on Friday. Ella llegó tarde el viernes.
• He goes to church on Sundays. Él va a la iglesia los domingos. 

Quick reminder: days and months aren’t capitalized in Spanish.

Uses of the Spanish preposition “de” and “del”

The prepositions De and del mean both “of” and “from.”

• I came straight from work. Vine directo del trabajo.
• They have three of those dogs. Tienen tres de esos perros.

Using prepositions in Spanish related to “under”

Where English has several synonyms for under, such as beneath, underneath, and below, Spanish has abajo, debajo, and bajo. These are also often interchangeable.

• The dog is under the table. El perro está abajo de la mesa, or el perro está debajo de la mesa.
• Also, por abajo and por debajo. Los precios en esta tienda están por debajo del promedio de la zona. The prices in this store are below the average for the area.
• But “under no circumstances” is always: bajo ninguna circunstancia.

Por & Para: Spanish has two words for “for” — por and para, which is dealt with in this related article.

Using prepositions in Spanish related to “behind”

In a similar vein, atrás de, detrás de, and tras are words for behind.

• No lo vi atrás de la puerta. I didn’t see him behind the door.
• Se escondió detrás del árbol. She hid behind the tree.
• El ladrón ya está tras las rejas. The thief is now behind bars.

Prepositions used in comparisons

And then there are prepositions used in comparisons. In English you can say “different from,” “different to,” or even “different than”  (some people frown on the use of than), but “not the same as.”

Likewise in Spanish you can say este color es diferente (or distinto) de este otro, or mi opinión es diferente al tuyo, but if you say something is not the same as something else, you would use the preposition que. For example:

• No es lo mismo correr en el bosque que correr en la ciudad.
• Es diferente tomar agua que tomar cerveza.

The phrase igual a, literally equal to, also means “the same as” when comparing two people or things.

• Este cuadro es igual al original. This painting is the same as the original.
• La niña es igualita a su mamá. The girl is just like (or identical to) her mother—here using the diminutive igualita. [

Diminutives can be used in Spanish to enhance as well as diminish a word’s meaning, as described in this related article.

Expressions that don’t require a preposition

Some expressions in Spanish don’t require a preposition.

• Look at me is just mírame.
• Speak to him is háblale.

Actually, the ‘at’ and the ‘to’ are implicit in the pronoun referring to the indirect object. For example, throw her the ball is échale la pelota, while throw it (the ball) is échala. Throw it (the ball) to her is then échasela (la referring to la pelota.)