Spanish grammar: preposiciones de lugar

What this grammar point covers

Prepositions of place in Spanish are words that show where something or someone is located. They help you describe the position or location of objects and people.

When to use it

Use these prepositions in Spanish to say where something is, to give directions, or to explain the position of people and objects in space.

Key forms

• en (in, on, at)
• sobre (on, over)
• debajo de (under, below)
• encima de (on top of, above)
• detrás de (behind)
• delante de (in front of)
• al lado de (next to, beside)
• entre (between, among)
• cerca de (near)
• lejos de (far from)

Examples

Tips

• Remember to use 'de' after some prepositions (for example: 'al lado de', 'debajo de').
• Pay attention to the difference between 'en' (in, on, at) and 'sobre' (on, over).
• Some prepositions change form if followed by 'el': 'de el' becomes 'del'.

Exceptions and edge cases

• When 'de' is followed by 'el', it contracts to 'del': 'detrás del coche' instead of 'detrás de el coche'.