Many Uses for the Preposition ‘Con’ in Spanish

The Spanish word con, pronounced much like the English word "cone," not like "con," is one of the most commonly used prepositions. In most uses, it is the equivalent of the English word "with." 

The word con is more versatile than the English "with," however, and it may be used in places where "with" might not be used in English. For example, con can be paired with certain verbs, can be used to form phrases that function like adverbs, indicate conditions, and form contractions.

Con Used With Certain Verbs

Con can be used with various verbs where a different preposition or none at all would be used in English. Such usages are unpredictable and need to be learned along with the verbs.

When used with the verbs above, con could be understood to mean "with," but it would be awkward to translate it literally that way.

Con Used to Form Phrases That Function Like Adverbs

In English, "with" can be used to form adverbial phrases, but but such phrases using con are far more common in Spanish. In some cases, such adverbial phrases are used in preference to or instead of synonymous adverbs. This list below is far from complete.

Con Used to Indicate a Condition

Sometimes when followed by an infinitive or a noun, con can have a variety of translations to indicate a condition being met or not. Translations for con in this case can include "if," "despite," and "by."

Con Used as a Contraction

When con is followed by the pronoun mí or ti to say "with me" or "with you," the phrase is changed to conmigo or contigo, respectively.

Key Takeaways

• Although con is the usual equivalent of the English preposition "with," it is often used in situations were "with" is not.
• Con is frequently paired with numerous verbs in unpredictable ways.
• Con is also frequently used with prepositional objects to form phrases that function as adverbs in situations where English would more likely simply use an adverb.