con
Lemma Details
Translation: with; by; using; along with; in the company of
Part of Speech: preposition
Etymology: Derived from Latin 'cum' meaning 'with, together with'. This Latin preposition evolved into 'con' in Spanish, maintaining its core meaning of accompaniment or association. The Latin 'cum' is also the source of the 'co-' prefix in English words like 'cooperate', 'coexist', and 'collaborate', all conveying togetherness or joint action.
Commonality: 95%
Guessability: 70%
Register: neutral
Example Usage
Mnemonics
- Think of 'con' as the first syllable in 'connection' – it's about connecting or being with something or someone.
- Remember that 'con' is like the English word 'con' in 'convene' or 'converge', which involve coming together.
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Antonyms
Example Wordforms
Cultural Context
A fundamental preposition in Spanish that appears in countless expressions and idioms. Understanding its various uses is essential for fluent communication.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: 'Con' means 'with' while 'como' means 'as' or 'like'. They have completely different functions in a sentence.
This word:
Voy con María.
I'm going with María.
Confused word:
Baila como un profesional.
He dances like a professional.
Notes: Both are short, common words but serve very different grammatical functions.
Mnemonic: 'Con' connects people or things, while 'como' compares them.
Explanation: While 'con' indicates accompaniment or means ('with'), 'por' typically indicates reason, cause, or exchange ('for', 'because of', 'through').
Confused word:
Lo hago por ti.
I do it for you.
Notes: Both are essential prepositions but with distinct meanings that aren't always directly translatable to English equivalents.
Mnemonic: 'Con' is about company or tools, 'por' is about reasons or exchanges.