Spanish word

distancia

Pronunciation

IPA/disˈtanθja/

Meaning

  • feminine noundistance

Example

Mantén la distancia cuando hables con ella.

Keep your distance when you talk to her.

Illustration for distancia (distance)

More examples

Necesitamos guardar distancia en espacios cerrados.

We need to maintain distance in enclosed spaces.

Core concept

Length separating two points, objects, or moments.

Common phrases

  • guardar distancia

    maintain distance

  • acortar la distancia

    close the gap

Similar words

espacio: Open space or gap between objects that allows room or movement.
separación: Condition of being apart or divided, often describing people or things.
lejanía: State of being distant or far away in place or time.
brecha: Gap or breach that creates a clear divide between things or ideas.

Definition in Spanish

Longitud o grado de separación entre dos puntos, personas u objetos; también aplicada a intervalos temporales o a la distancia emocional.

Word origin

From Latin distantia (dis- 'apart' + stare 'to stand'), meaning the state of being apart and adopted into Spanish for spatial, temporal, and emotional separation.

Usage tips

  • The noun is feminine (la distancia), and mantener la distancia commonly refers to physical space but also to emotional separation, so speakers usually add context when the emotional sense is meant.

Other meanings

  • intervalnoun
  • gapnoun

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word