Spanish Conversation · Level 59
74 words
Spanish word
cercano
Pronunciation
IPA/θeɾˈkano/
Meaning
- adjectiveclose
Example
La tienda cercana abre a las ocho.
The store close by opens at eight.
More examples
La estación cercana está a cinco minutos caminando.
The nearby station is a five-minute walk.
Core concept
Something only a short distance away in space or time.
Common phrases
cercano a
close to
lugar cercano
nearby place
estación cercana
nearby station
Similar words
próximo: Right next to a reference point in space or time, often denoting the upcoming spot or moment.
vecino: Near in the sense of neighborhood proximity, belonging to the same local area.
junto: Immediately adjacent and touching, with little or no gap separating the items.
Definition in Spanish
Que está próximo en el espacio o en el tiempo; que se encuentra a poca distancia o en un futuro cercano.
Word origin
The word comes from Latin circā 'around, near' plus -ānus, which yields medieval circānus and then modern cercano.
Usage tips
- For events immediately next in order speakers prefer próximo, while cercano describes general nearness in space or time.