Spanish Conversation · Level 6
89 words
Spanish word
atrás
Pronunciation
IPA/aˈtɾas/
Meaning
- adverbback
Example
Mira atrás antes de cruzar.
Look back before crossing.
More examples
El coche se quedó atrás en la carrera.
The car was left behind in the race.
Core concept
Backward location or movement, with a figurative shift to an earlier time.
Common phrases
quedarse atrás
be left behind
hacia atrás
backwards
unos minutos atrás
a few minutes ago
Similar words
detrás: Immediately behind an object or person.
por detrás: At the back as seen from the outside.
a la espalda: On a person's back or the backside of an object, often touching the back.
Definition in Spanish
Indica que algo está o se mueve hacia la parte posterior; en sentido figurado señala un momento anterior en el tiempo.
Word origin
Comes from a + tras, with tras from Latin trans 'across' or 'beyond', whose spatial sense later extends metaphorically to denote earlier time.
Usage tips
- Atrás commonly follows verbs or time expressions, as in 'mirar atrás' or 'dos años atrás', rather than appearing before a noun.