Spanish prepositions of manner describe how an action is done. Con + noun (con cuidado, carefully) and sin (sin prisa, without hurry) are the most useful; según means according to and como means like. Fixed phrases use a (a pie, a mano), en (en voz alta, en serio), de (de memoria, de repente) and por (por escrito).
con + noun = -ly adverb (con cuidado = carefully)- Prepositions that describe manner
- con, sin, según, como
- Use them in real sentences
Spanish prepositions of manner answer the question how: carefully, on foot, by heart, out loud, in writing. Where English often reaches for an adverb, Spanish loves a short preposition phrase — con cuidado, a pie, de memoria, en voz alta, por escrito — and knowing which preposition goes with which expression is what makes you sound natural instead of translated.
The challenge is that no single rule tells you why "by hand" is a mano but "by heart" is de memoria. After 40 years I can give you the honest answer: these are set phrases, and the fastest way in is a good table plus a few dozen real sentences. Here they are.
The big pictureWhen to use Spanish prepositions of manner
A preposition of manner (preposición de modo) describes the way an action is done. Four of them have a clear, predictable meaning; four more work inside fixed expressions you learn as vocabulary.
- con (with) — the manner as a quality: Habla con paciencia. (She speaks patiently.)
- sin (without) — the absence of that quality: Salió sin despedirse. (He left without saying goodbye.)
- según (according to) — the source or standard: Lo hice según las instrucciones. (I did it according to the instructions.)
- como (like, as) — comparison of manner: Cocina como su abuela. (He cooks like his grandmother.)
- a, en, de, por — fixed expressions: a pie, en serio, de repente, por escrito.
The con + noun pattern is the workhorse. Almost any English adverb of manner — carefully, calmly, confidently, patiently — can be rebuilt as con + the noun: con cuidado, con calma, con confianza, con paciencia. Learn that pattern and you can express manner before you've memorized a single -mente adverb.
The listThe Spanish prepositions of manner, with examples
| Preposition | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| con + noun | with (a quality) → "-ly" | Maneja con cuidado. — He drives carefully. |
| sin + noun / infinitive | without | Contestó sin pensar. — She answered without thinking. |
| según | according to | Según el médico, estoy bien. — According to the doctor, I'm fine. |
| como | like, as | Trabaja como un profesional. — He works like a professional. |
| a (fixed) | a pie, a mano, a propósito, a gritos | Fuimos a pie. — We went on foot. |
| en (fixed) | en voz alta, en serio, en silencio, en broma | Lee en voz alta. — Read out loud. |
| de (fixed) | de memoria, de repente, de prisa, de pie | Lo sé de memoria. — I know it by heart. |
| por (fixed) | por escrito, por teléfono, por casualidad | Envíalo por escrito. — Send it in writing. |
Rough tendencies, not rules: a for the means or instrument (a mano, a pie), en for the mode or tone (en voz alta, en serio), de for a sudden or habitual way (de repente, de memoria), por for the channel (por escrito, por correo).
The adverb alternative: -mente
Most con + noun phrases have an adverb twin: take the feminine form of the adjective and add -mente. Con cuidado = cuidadosamente; con calma = tranquilamente; con rapidez = rápidamente. Both are correct. In conversation, native speakers lean toward the preposition phrase — it's shorter and softer. In writing, -mente shows up more. When two -mente adverbs appear together, only the last one keeps the ending: Habló clara y lentamente (He spoke clearly and slowly).
When you can't remember the adverb, don't freeze — build it with con. You want "confidently"? Con confianza. "Honestly"? Con sinceridad. It's always correct, it's what natives say, and it buys you time while the -mente forms sink in.
In contextExamples in real Spanish
From the classroomCommon mistakes English speakers make
- Translating "by" as "por" everywhere. "By hand" is a mano, "by heart" is de memoria, "by phone" is por teléfono. There is no single Spanish "by." Learn the expression, not the English preposition.
- Saying "con" + adjective. Habla con lento doesn't exist. Con needs a noun: con lentitud, or switch to the adverb, lentamente.
- Using "sin" with a conjugated verb. Salió sin dijo nada is a very common slip. After sin comes an infinitive: Salió sin decir nada (He left without saying anything).
- Confusing como and cómo. Without the accent, como means "like/as" and expresses manner: Canta como un ángel. With the accent it's the question word "how": ¿Cómo canta? One mark, two different sentences.
- Adding "a" after según. It's según mi madre, never según a mi madre. And with pronouns it takes the subject form: según yo, según tú — not según mí.
Sibling lessonPrepositions of manner vs prepositions of place
Here's the trap: a, en, de and por appear on both lists. A pie is "on foot" (manner) but a la oficina is "to the office" (place). En voz alta is "out loud" (manner) but en la mesa is "on the table" (place). De memoria is "by heart" but debajo de la cama is "under the bed."
The preposition doesn't tell you which system you're in — the noun does. If the noun after it is a location, you're describing where, and you want the Spanish prepositions of place, which follow much stricter rules (and always ride on estar). If the noun is an abstract quality, a tool, or a mode — cuidado, mano, escrito, serio — you're describing how, and you're here. The same test separates both from the Spanish prepositions of time: if the noun is a clock time, a month or a season, the question is when.
Place, time, manner: three questions, one small set of words. You'll find all three lessons in my hub on Spanish prepositions. Manner is the one that makes your Spanish sound like a person talking, not a textbook — so practice it out loud. En voz alta.
PracticeQuick quiz: spanish prepositions of manner
Six questions from the lesson. Answer in your head, then open to check.
