These prepositions show whether an accompaniment is present.

The idea

Con means with; sin means without. Both can introduce a person or thing.

Patterns to compare
ExpresiónEjemplo
conté con limón
sincafé sin azúcar

Examples

  • Tomo el té con limón.I drink tea with lemon.
  • La sopa está sin sal.The soup has no salt.
  • Paseamos con nuestros vecinos.We walk with our neighbours.
  • Prefiero café sin azúcar.I prefer coffee without sugar.
  • El paquete viene con una tarjeta.The package comes with a card.
  • Ella sale sin paraguas.She leaves without an umbrella.

Read-aloud uses a synthetic Spanish voice available on your device. Voice quality and availability vary; it does not assess your pronunciation.

Watch out

Do not confuse absence with negation of the whole action: sin only excludes its complement.

Try it yourself

  1. Choose the word. El pan lleva queso: lo quiero ___ queso. (con / sin)

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    con

    con: the bread contains cheese.

  2. Choose the word. No hay leche en mi vaso: está ___ leche. (con / sin)

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    sin

    sin: there is no milk in the glass.

  3. Choose the word. Viajo acompañado por mi hermano: viajo ___ mi hermano. (con / sin)

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    con

    con: the brother accompanies the traveller.

Use it today

Describe a meal with one ingredient and without another.