a las
Lemma Details
Translation: at; by; on
Part of Speech: preposition
Etymology: The preposition 'a las' combines the preposition 'a' (from Latin 'ad' meaning 'to' or 'toward') with the feminine plural definite article 'las' (from Latin 'illas'). This construction is used specifically before feminine plural nouns when referring to specific times or occasions.
Commonality: 90%
Guessability: 70%
Register: neutral
Mnemonics
- Think of 'a las' as 'at the' where 'las' refers to feminine plural nouns or times.
- For telling time, remember that 'a las' always precedes the hour number.
Antonyms
Cultural Context
Frequently used in Spanish to indicate specific times (e.g., 'a las tres' - at three o'clock) or to refer to specific occasions or locations with feminine plural nouns.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: While 'a las' typically means 'at the' or 'by the' and often refers to time or movement toward something, 'en las' means 'in the' or 'on the' and typically refers to location or position within something.
Notes: With time expressions, 'a las' is almost always used rather than 'en las'.
Mnemonic: 'A' is for 'arrival time', 'en' is for 'inside' or 'on'.
Explanation: 'A las' indicates a specific time or destination, while 'por las' often means 'through the', 'along the', or 'during the' (with a less specific timeframe).
Confused word:
Me gusta caminar por las calles del centro.
I like walking through the streets downtown.
Notes: 'Por las' with time often indicates an approximate or recurring time period (e.g., 'por las mañanas' - in the mornings).
Mnemonic: 'A' points to a specific point, 'por' moves through something.