Prepositions of movement show direction from one place to another. They are normally used after a verb of motion.
Spanish verbs of motion
Here you have a list of the most important Spanish verbs of motion.
Click on the links to see how to form the verbs above that are irregular:
Prepositions with verbs of movement
Prepositions work in a very specific way after verbs of motion or direction:
1. Preposition A is used to express the destination:
Enrique subió al tren (He got on the train).
Llegó a la ciudad (He arrived in the city).
2. Preposition DE is used…
– to express origin:
Él es de México (He is from México).
Venimos de la playa (We are coming from the beach).
– in some expressions such as:
de vacaciones (on holiday), de excursión (on a trip), de compras (shopping)…
3. DESDE (from here) HASTA (to there):
Vamos desde (de) Marsella hasta (a) Santiago de Compostela (He goes from Marsella to Santiago de Compostela).
4. Preposition EN to indicate transport:
Está montado en bicicleta (He’s riding a bike).
Voy en tren (I go by train).
Viajo en avión (I travel by plane).
exceptions: a pie, andando, a caballo.
5. HACIA is a preposition that means “towards” or “to”, expressing the direction of movement:
Tenemos que caminar hacia el parque para llegar a la casa de Juan (We have to walk towards the park to go to John’s house).
Vi a mi hermana caminando rápidamente hacia mí (I saw my sister walking rapidly towards me).
6. We use the preposition POR to indicate “the path”:
Viajan por la autopista (they travel on the motorway).