al
prepositionCEFR A1High frequency
What does “al” mean in English?
to the or at the
to the or at the (a + el contraction)
Example sentences
Voy al mercado.
I am going to the market.
Estamos al lado del hotel.
We are next to the hotel.
How to use it
Al is the required contraction of a + el. It often means 'to the' or 'at the' before a masculine singular noun.
Common mistake
Do not write a el for this meaning. Spanish contracts it to al before masculine singular nouns.