Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| a través de | /a tɾaˈbes de/ |
| por | /poɾ/ /ˈpo/ |
| por medio de | /poɾ medjo de/ (from spelling rules) |
| mediante | /meˈdjante/ |
| vía | /ˈbia/ |
In Spanish, 'via' is expressed through different terms depending on whether you are describing a physical route, a medium of communication or a formal method used to achieve an objective. You can use por to indicate a path or route taken, a través de to describe moving through or using a medium, por medio de and mediante to denote the instrument or agency used and vía for technical or travel-related contexts.
Which one should you use?
'A través de' is the most common way to express 'via' or 'through' when describing a medium or a physical passage. 'Mediante' is often used in more formal, written contexts to describe the method or instrument used to achieve something. 'por' is specifically used when referring to a route or a path taken, such as traveling via a certain city.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Several options are formal in nature. Mediante and por medio de are formal ways to indicate 'by means of'. A través de is also considered a formal phrase. The word vía is used specifically in formal or technical contexts, such as in official communications or travel itineraries.
How does it change in a sentence?
Por medio de is a multi-word prepositional phrase used to indicate the agency or instrument used to perform an action.
How do you pronounce it?
/a tɾaˈbes de/
Did you know?
- If the word medio had followed its natural evolution from Old Spanish instead of being borrowed from Latin, it might have sounded like the Spanish verb 'mear', which means 'to urinate'.
Examples in context
- Cualquier otra consulta ha de realizarse mediante el número de servicio al cliente que se indica abajo.Any further queries should be made via the customer service number below.This sentence shows how to use mediante to indicate the method for making a query.Tatoeba #10242052 by Seael, translation #8657765 by AlanF_US
- María estaba postrada en la cama. El único contacto que ella tenía con el mundo exterior era a través de las emisiones de tv.Maria was bedridden. The only contact she had with the outside world was via the TV broadcasts.This sentence uses a través de to describe a contact made through a medium.Tatoeba #5798302 by albrusgher, translation #3839254 by janms
- En 1519, el navegante portugués Fernando de Magallanes, empleado por España, comenzó un viaje a través del océano Atlántico en busca de una ruta occidental hacia las islas de las especias, a través de Sudamérica.In 1519, Portuguese navigator Ferdinand Magellan, in the employ of Spain, began a journey across the Atlantic Ocean to seek a western route to the Spice Islands via South America.This sentence demonstrates using por to describe a route taken through a specific location.Tatoeba #10021373 by manufrutos, translation #6679607 by Hybrid
- Envíe el documento mediante correo electrónico.Send the document via email.
- Reservé el hotel a través de una agencia de viajes.I booked the hotel via a travel agency.
- El mensaje fue enviado por medio de fax.The message was sent via fax.
- Te enviaré el enlace por WhatsApp.I'll send you the link via WhatsApp.
- Me enteré de la noticia a través de un amigo.I heard the news via a friend.
- Nos comunicamos vía Skype todos los días.We communicate via Skype every day.
- 6 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Alejandro and Lucía are talking about how they received an invitation.
- Alejandro¿Cómo recibiste la invitación?How did you receive the invitation?
- LucíaLa recibí a través de un mensaje de texto.I received it via a text message.
- Alejandro¡Qué rápido!How fast!
- LucíaSí, fue muy sencillo.Yes, it was very simple.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “via” translations and entries a través de, por, por medio de, mediante, vía, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries a, a través de, de, mediante, medio, por, través, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
