a la
Lemma Details
Translation: to the; at the; in the; according to; in the style of
Part of Speech: preposition
Etymology: The preposition 'a la' combines the Spanish preposition 'a' (to, at) with the feminine definite article 'la' (the). This construction is used to indicate direction, location, manner, or style. It parallels similar constructions in other Romance languages like French 'à la'.
Commonality: 90%
Guessability: 70%
Register: neutral
Mnemonics
- Think of 'a la carte' in English, which comes from French but has the same structure as Spanish 'a la'.
- Remember that 'a la' often means 'in the style of' by thinking of fashion: 'dressed à la mode'.
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Synonyms
Cultural Context
This preposition is extremely common in Spanish and is used in many fixed expressions and idioms. It's particularly common in culinary contexts to describe cooking styles (e.g., 'a la parrilla' - grilled).
Easily Confused With
Explanation: 'A la' is used with feminine nouns, while 'al' (a + el) is used with masculine nouns.
This word:
Voy a la tienda.
I'm going to the store.
Confused word:
Voy al mercado.
I'm going to the market.
Notes: Both are contractions of the preposition 'a' with definite articles, but they match the gender of the following noun.
Mnemonic: Remember: 'a la' for feminine ('la' is feminine), 'al' for masculine ('el' is masculine).
Explanation: 'A la' often indicates direction or manner, while 'en la' typically indicates location or position.
This word:
Vamos a la escuela.
We're going to school.
Confused word:
Estamos en la escuela.
We are in school.
Notes: The distinction between 'a' and 'en' is similar to the distinction between 'to' and 'in' in English.
Mnemonic: Think of 'a' as movement toward something, and 'en' as being inside or within something.