Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
How to Say During in Spanish: Durante
Durante · preposition · doo-RAHN-teh
The Spanish preposition 'durante' translates directly to 'during' and indicates that something happens throughout a specific period of time. It is one of the easiest Spanish words for English speakers to learn because it looks and sounds similar to its English counterpart.
Pronounce it doo-RAHN-teh with stress on the second syllable. The word has three syllables and follows standard Spanish pronunciation.
Llovió mucho durante la noche.
It rained a lot during the night.
During in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for during, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| durante | during | doo-RAHN-teh | Default, widely understood |
| en el transcurso de | during | formal variant meaning 'in the course of' |
How Native Speakers Use Durante
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Work hours
No puedo usar el teléfono durante las horas de trabajo.
I can't use the phone during work hours.
Describing a workplace rule.
Travel
Visitamos tres ciudades durante nuestro viaje por España.
We visited three cities during our trip through Spain.
Recounting a travel experience.
Historical event
Muchas familias sufrieron durante la guerra civil.
Many families suffered during the civil war.
Discussing historical events.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Durante
Confusing durante with por
Incorrect: Estudié por la mañana entera.
Correct: Estudié durante toda la mañana.
While 'por' can indicate duration, 'durante' is more precise when emphasizing that something occurred throughout a specific time period.
Adding unnecessary article
Incorrect: Durante del verano, viajamos.
Correct: Durante el verano, viajamos.
'Durante' is a preposition that connects directly to the noun phrase. It does not use 'del' (de + el) before the time period.
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Why word lists alone don't stick
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See Durante used by native speakers
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Common Questions About During in Spanish
- Is durante always interchangeable with por?
- While both can express duration, 'durante' specifically means 'throughout' a defined period, whereas 'por' can indicate a more approximate duration or the reason for something.
- Where does durante go in a sentence?
- 'Durante' typically appears before the time expression it modifies and can come at the beginning, middle, or end of a sentence, just like 'during' in English.
- Can durante be used with numbers?
- Absolutely, as in 'durante tres horas' (during/for three hours) or 'durante cinco años' (during/for five years), where it specifies the length of time an action takes place.