Say how close one place is to another.

The idea

Cerca de means near; lejos de means far from. Each introduces a reference point.

Patterns to compare
ExpresiónEjemplo
cerca decerca de la plaza
lejos delejos de la costa

Examples

  • La farmacia está cerca de la plaza.The pharmacy is near the square.
  • Vivimos lejos del aeropuerto.We live far from the airport.
  • Hay un banco cerca de mi oficina.There is a bank near my office.
  • El pueblo queda lejos de la costa.The village is far from the coast.
  • Aparqué la bici cerca de la biblioteca.I parked the bike near the library.
  • El hotel está lejos de la estación.The hotel is far from the station.

Read-aloud uses a synthetic Spanish voice available on your device. Voice quality and availability vary; it does not assess your pronunciation.

Watch out

Keep de before the reference; de el contracts to del. Near and far depend on context.

Try it yourself

  1. Complete the sentence: La escuela está a pocos pasos de casa: está ___ casa.

    Show answer or example answer

    cerca de

    cerca de: the school is only a few steps away.

  2. Complete the sentence: La playa está a muchos kilómetros de aquí: está ___ aquí.

    Show answer or example answer

    lejos de

    lejos de: the beach is many kilometres away.

  3. Complete the sentence: El café está al lado de la biblioteca: está ___ la biblioteca.

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    cerca de

    cerca de: the café is next to the library.

Use it today

Describe a place near your home and one far from it.