For conventional reasons and to ease diction, two prepositions are abbreviated: ‘De’ (of, from), and ‘A’ (to, at.) These abbreviations appear only in masculine form, while feminine forms remain unabbreviated.
Abbreviation A
Abbreviation B
English
Of the...
To the...
Spanish Masculine
De el
DEL
A el AL
Spanish Feminine
De la
A la
1. It’s the lady’s Es de la señora 2. It’s the hotel’s Es (de el) del hotel 3. I’m going (in Spanish: I go) to the school (Yo) voy a la escuela 4. I’m going (in Spanish: I go) to the movies (Yo) voy (a el) al cine
DEL