Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
OVER in Spanish: SOBRE
Sobre · preposition · SOH-breh
Few English prepositions are as overloaded as 'over'—it can mean above, across, more than, finished, and about, among other senses. Spanish distributes these meanings across multiple words: sobre (above/about), encima de (on top of), más de (more than), and terminado (finished). This one-to-many mapping is a classic challenge for learners, but once you match each English sense of 'over' to its Spanish counterpart, your spatial and abstract vocabulary gains precision.
SOH-breh
El avión voló sobre las montañas.
The airplane flew over the mountains.
Over in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for over, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| sobre | over | SOH-breh | Default, widely understood |
| encima de | over | on top of/above | |
| más de | over | more than | |
| terminado | over | finished/done |
How Native Speakers Use Sobre
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Spatial: Above
Hay un puente sobre el río.
There is a bridge over the river.
Sobre indicates physical position above or spanning something.
Quantity: More Than
Asistieron más de cien personas al evento.
Over a hundred people attended the event.
Más de translates 'over' when it means 'more than' a quantity.
Finished
La reunión ya terminó.
The meeting is over.
When 'over' means 'finished,' Spanish uses terminó, acabó, or se acabó.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Sobre
Using sobre for 'more than'
Incorrect: Sobre cien personas vinieron.
Correct: Más de cien personas vinieron.
Sobre does not express quantity in standard Spanish. For 'over' meaning 'more than,' use más de.
Using sobre for 'finished'
Incorrect: La fiesta está sobre.
Correct: La fiesta terminó / se acabó.
Sobre never means 'finished' in Spanish. Use terminó, acabó, or se acabó to express that something is over.
Lock in Over Vocabulary with the Parrot Method
Why word lists alone don't stick
Memorizing a translation feels productive, but most learners forget 70% of what they studied within 48 hours. Vocabulary needs spaced repetition AND real-world exposure to transfer to long-term memory.
See Sobre used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using sobre in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear El avión voló sobre las montañas. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.
Save, review, repeat, stay consistent
Tap any word to save it. Parrot's spaced-repetition system surfaces it right before you'd forget, no manual flashcard creation. The watch, parrot back, save, review cycle turns recognition into fluency at 2.7x the speed of traditional study.
Common Questions About Over in Spanish
- How many Spanish words translate 'over'?
- At least four main translations cover the most common meanings: sobre (above, about), encima de (on top of, physically), más de (more than), and terminado/acabado (finished). Each corresponds to a different sense of the English word 'over.'
- What is the difference between sobre and encima de?
- Sobre is more general and can mean 'about' as well as 'above' (un libro sobre historia, a book about history). Encima de specifically means 'on top of' and emphasizes physical placement (encima de la mesa, on top of the table).
- How do I say 'game over' in Spanish?
- While fin del juego (end of the game) is the native translation, the English phrase 'game over' is widely used in gaming culture across Spanish-speaking countries. Both are understood, though fin del juego sounds more natural in formal or narrative contexts.