por
author, standard
To name the author of a book, song or article, Spanish uses de or por. Un libro de Gabriel García Márquez is the most natural way to say "a book by Gabriel García Márquez".
Meaning: by, naming the author of a work (preposition)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | Note |
|---|---|
| por | author, standard |
| de | author, title pages |
De is the usual choice when you introduce a work and its author. Escrito por is used when you say who wrote it, as in escrito por Isabel Allende.
Which one should you use?
For people who do something, por marks the doer: pintado por Frida Kahlo. For possession or origin, de is the safer word, so a title page often reads Novela de Laura Esquivel.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English learners often translate every "by" as por, but un libro por Cervantes sounds odd. Use de or escrito por.
Did you know?
- The cover line por before an author name appears mostly in passive phrases, while de is what you see on book spines.
Examples in context
- Es una novela de Isabel Allende.It is a novel by Isabel Allende.
- El cuadro fue pintado por Frida Kahlo.The painting was painted by Frida Kahlo.
- ¿De quién es esta canción?Who is this song by?
Example conversation
Marta asks a bookseller in Madrid about a book.
- Marta¿Tiene algo de Almudena Grandes?Do you have anything by Almudena Grandes?
- VendedorSí, esta novela fue escrita por ella.Yes, this novel was written by her.
- MartaPerfecto, me la llevo.Perfect, I will take it.
