From in Spanish: Meaning, Use, and Examples
What is “From” in Spanish
“From” in Spanish is usually translated with de. It is the most common preposition. It has five different meanings: origin, possession, material, cause, or part of the sentence. That shows where something or someone is.
Example: Soy de México. (I am from Mexico.)
Meaning and Pronunciation
The short and easy Spanish word de is pronounced deh. It does not get affected much when the number and gender come into play and behaves in an expected manner in spite of the condition. You can apply de to nearly all the Spanish sentences as de relates things, people, and ideas with origin or origin.
How to Use “De” in Spanish
To show that someone or something is from somewhere
Use de to show origin or source.
Examples:
Soy de España. (I am from Spain.)
Ella viene de la escuela. (She comes from the school.)
El tren sale de la estación. (The train leaves from the station.)
To show possession or ownership
Use de to show that something belongs to someone.
Examples:
My brother’s car. El coche de mi hermano.
To show material
Use de to say what something is composed of.
Examples:
A table made of wood. Una mesa de madera.
A bottle made of glass. Una botella de vidrio.
To say time or half a day
Use de with time nouns.
Examples:
I work at night. Trabajo por la noche.
He studies during the day. Estudia durante el día.
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To say reason or cause
De occasionally is a marker for the reason or cause of something.
Examples:
Murio de frío. (He froze to death.)
Lloro de felicidad. (I cry with happiness.)
“De” With Articles
De is usually followed by el in Spanish to create del (“of the” or “from the”).
Examples:
Vengo del parque. (I come from the park.)
La puerta del coche. (The car door.)
Never de el apart. Always as del together say them.
Preceded by la, as one word say it:
Vengo de la playa. (I’m coming from the beach.)
Standard Phrases with “De”
De dónde eres – Where are you from
Salir de casa – To leave home
De parte de – On behalf of
Hecho de – Made of
De nada – You’re welcome
“Desde” vs “De”
From is also “desde” at times in Spanish, especially when we are using it to talk about place or time.
Use the use of “desde” to talk about “from a place” in time or place.
Examples:
Lo veo desde mi ventana. (I can see you from my window.)
El autobús sale desde la estación central. (The bus departs from the central station.)
Fast tip: Use de to indicate shared possession or origin, and desde to indicate time or distance.
Spanish de is one of the simplest but most powerful Spanish words. De is “from,” “of,” or “about.” It depends on the context. If you understand how it is used. Then it makes your words sound more natural.
FAQs
- How do you know when to use de and when to use desde?
De for general origin or ownership and since/desde for time or distance. - What do you say when you need to say “from the school”?
You’d tell de la escuela or del colegio, whichever you just so happen to be in.
