Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| en | /en/ /ˈem/ |
| dentro de | /ˈdentɾo de/ |
en is the standard preposition used to indicate that something is contained by something else. Related to this, the verb entrar is used to mean 'to enter'. You may also use hacia adentro to express moving towards the interior, and de moda to describe something that is 'in fashion' or popular.
Which one should you use?
While en is the standard preposition for 'in', dentro de is used to emphasize the physical containment or the sense of being 'inside of' a space.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The preposition en does not change its form based on the gender or number of the noun that follows it.
How do you pronounce it?
/en/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Be aware that while en can often be used to mean 'on' in many contexts (such as 'on the table'), English speakers should note that sobre is a more specific way to say 'on top of'.
Did you know?
- The phrase dentro de is used for time to say 'in' a certain period, such as dentro de una hora for 'in one hour'.
- In some contexts, en can describe a state of being, such as enamorarse to mean 'falling in love', where the 'in' is baked into the verb.
- Spanish uses en to express being 'in' a city, but if you are 'in' a specific neighborhood, you might use por to imply you are around that area.
Examples in context
- Tengo fe en ti.I have faith in you.This sentence shows how to express having faith in someone using en.Tatoeba #1345062 by marcelostockle, translation #1345046 by CM
- Nadé en el río.I swam in the river.This sentence demonstrates the use of en to indicate location within a body of water.Tatoeba #3715918 by Seael, translation #2250450 by CK
- No creo en vos.I don't believe in you.This sentence shows the use of en with the verb for belief.Tatoeba #4507191 by emanuel81, translation #4507143 by TRli
- Estoy en casa.I am at home.
- La conferencia comienza en diez minutos.The conference starts in ten minutes.
- El agua se convierte en hielo a cero grados.Water turns into ice at zero degrees.
- Vamos a jugar adentro de la casa.Let's play inside the house.
- Pon las cosas adentro del bolso.Put the things inside the bag.
- Estoy dentro de la oficina.I am in the office.
- 15737 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Mateo and Elena are in a cafe looking for their keys.
- Mateo¿Están las llaves en el bolso?Are the keys in the bag?
- ElenaNo, no están en el bolso.No, they are not in the bag.
- MateoMira, están en la mesa.Look, they are on the table.
- Elena¡Qué alivio! Las encontré en la mesa.What a relief! I found them on the table.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “in” translations and entries en, dentro de, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
