en
Lemma Details
Translation: in; on; at; into
Part of Speech: preposition
Etymology: Derived from Latin 'in' (in, on, at). The Latin 'in' evolved into 'en' in Spanish, maintaining similar meanings and uses. This preposition shares its Latin root with the English preposition 'in', making it a cognate that retained much of its original meaning while expanding to cover contexts where English might use 'on' or 'at' as well.
Commonality: 100%
Guessability: 80%
Register: neutral
Mnemonics
- Think of being 'en' (in) a location, like 'en España' (in Spain).
- Remember that 'en' often corresponds to English 'in', 'on', or 'at' depending on context.
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Antonyms
Example Wordforms
Cultural Context
This is one of the most fundamental prepositions in Spanish, used in countless expressions and contexts. Understanding its various uses is essential for basic communication.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: While 'en' typically indicates location or position (in, on, at), 'a' typically indicates movement or direction (to, at). 'En' is used for static locations while 'a' often implies movement toward something.
This word:
Estoy en la escuela.
I am at school.
Confused word:
Voy a la escuela.
I'm going to school.
Notes: There are exceptions to these general rules, especially in fixed expressions.
Mnemonic: Think: 'en' for being IN a place, 'a' for going TO a place.
Explanation: 'En' means 'in/on/at' while 'entre' means 'between' or 'among'. They sound somewhat similar but have distinct meanings.
Notes: 'Entre' is related to the English word 'enter' etymologically, but their meanings have diverged.
Mnemonic: 'Entre' has the 'tre' sound like 'three' - think of something between multiple things.