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Prepositions for Spanish motion verbs

When you are on the move in Spanish, you need the right prepositions to get you to your destination. English speakers often stumble because Spanish motion verbs lock onto specific prepositions that do not match the logic of English. Sometimes English uses a preposition where Spanish does not, and sometimes English uses no preposition at all.

For example, you might naturally try to translate "enter the room" word for word, skipping the preposition. However, Spanish requires one. You must treat verbs like llegar, entrar, and bajar as package deals. Learning the verb together with its preposition will make your Spanish sound much more natural.

Word list
llegarA1 to arrive llegar a = to arrive at/in salirA1 to go out salir de = to leave/exit bajarA2 to get off bajar de = to get off bajarA2 to get out bajar de = to get out bajarseA2 to get off bajarse de = to get off bajarseA2 to get out bajarse de = to get out entrarA2 to enter entrar en/a = to enter irse deA2 to leave irse de = to leave salirA2 to get out salir de = to get out salir deA2 to leave salir de = to leave subirA2 to get on subir a = to get on/board subirA2 to get in subir a = to get in subirseA2 to get on subirse a = to get on/board subirseA2 to get in subirse a = to get in acercarseB1 to approach acercarse a = to approach embarcarseB1 to get on embarcarse en = to board marcharse deB1 to leave marcharse de = to leave subir a bordoB1 to get on subir a bordo de = to board apearseB2 to get off apearse de = to get off aproximarseB2 to approach aproximarse a = to approach
Arriving and entering

Let us look at verbs that describe reaching a destination. In English, you arrive "in" a city or "at" a station. In Spanish, the verb llegar always pairs with the preposition a.

Nosotros llegamos a Madrid por la mañana.
(We arrived in Madrid in the morning.)

When you enter a physical space, English does not use a preposition at all. You just "enter the building". In Spanish, entrar requires a preposition. In Spain, you will usually hear entrar en. In much of Latin America, you will hear entrar a.

El profesor entró en el aula.
(The teacher entered the classroom.)

Similarly, the verb acercarse describes moving towards something. While English says "approach the dog", Spanish requires the preposition a.

No te acerques a ese perro.
(Do not approach that dog.)
Vehicles and leaving

Getting on and off public transport involves a specific set of preposition rules. To board a bus, train, or plane, use subir or its reflexive form subirse, followed by a. Think of it as going "up to" the vehicle.

Los pasajeros suben al tren.
(The passengers get on the train.)

When it is time to leave the vehicle, you use bajar or bajarse followed by de. This translates literally to going "down from" the vehicle.

Voy a bajarme del autobús en la próxima parada.
(I am going to get off the bus at the next stop.)

Finally, when you exit a building, room, or any enclosed space, you use salir. Just like getting off a bus, exiting a space requires the preposition de.

Ellos salen del cine muy tarde.
(They go out of the cinema very late.)
Watch out for contractions

When these prepositions collide with the masculine definite article el, you must combine them into a single word. This happens very frequently with motion verbs.

  • a + el becomes al
  • de + el becomes del
Siempre llegamos al hotel cansados.
(We always arrive at the hotel tired.)

Remember that this contraction only happens with the masculine singular article el. If the location is feminine or plural, the words stay separate.

Summary

Do not rely on English prepositions when using Spanish motion verbs. Memorize each verb as a unit with its required preposition: llegar a for arriving, entrar en or entrar a for entering, subir a for boarding, and bajar de or salir de for exiting.