adelante
/a-deh-LAN-teh/
Come in!
As an interjection, adelante means 'Come in!' or 'Go ahead!' This image captures the welcoming gesture of permission.
adelante(Interjection)
Come in!
?When someone is at the door
,Go ahead!
?Giving someone permission to do something
📝 In Action
— ¿Puedo entrar? — ¡Sí, claro, adelante!
A1— May I come in? — Yes, of course, come in!
— ¿Empiezo a leer? — Sí, adelante.
A2— Should I start reading? — Yes, go ahead.
El presentador dijo: '¡Adelante con el siguiente concursante!'
B1The host said: 'Let's bring on the next contestant!'
⭐ Usage Tips
A Welcoming Word
Think of '¡Adelante!' as a friendly, all-purpose 'green light'. You can use it to welcome someone into your home, your office, or to give them permission to speak or act.
Used as an adverb of direction, adelante means 'forward' or 'straight ahead,' describing movement in space.
adelante(Adverb)
forward
?Direction of movement
,onward
?Continuing a journey
ahead
?In front, in the direction of travel
📝 In Action
Para llegar a la plaza, tienes que seguir todo recto hacia adelante.
A2To get to the square, you have to keep going straight ahead.
El ejército continuó su marcha adelante, sin detenerse.
B1The army continued its march onward, without stopping.
Mira hacia adelante, no hacia atrás.
A2Look forward, not backward.
💡 Grammar Points
Describing Movement
'Adelante' tells you the direction of movement. It answers the question 'where to?' (¿A dónde?). For example, 'Caminar adelante' (to walk forward).
❌ Common Pitfalls
'Adelante' vs. 'Delante'
Mistake: "Estoy adelante de la casa."
Correction: Estoy delante de la casa. (I am in front of the house.) Use 'delante' to say something is located *in front of* something else. Use 'adelante' for movement *forward*.
When referring to time, adelante often translates to 'from now on' or 'later on,' signifying movement into the future or sequence.
adelante(Adverb)
from now on
?Referring to future time
,further on / later on
?In a text, speech, or sequence of events
henceforth
?Formal, starting from this point
📝 In Action
De ahora en adelante, voy a estudiar español todos los días.
B1From now on, I'm going to study Spanish every day.
Más adelante en la película, descubrimos el secreto del protagonista.
B1Later on in the movie, we discover the main character's secret.
En adelante, todas las comunicaciones se harán por correo electrónico.
B2Henceforth, all communications will be made by email.
⭐ Usage Tips
Moving Forward in Time
Just like 'adelante' can mean moving forward in space, it can also mean moving forward in time or in a sequence, like in a book or a movie.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: adelante
Question 1 of 2
If a friend knocks on your door, what is the most natural way to invite them in?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the real difference between 'adelante' and 'delante'?
It's all about movement vs. location! Use 'adelante' when you're talking about moving *forward* ('Camina adelante' - Walk forward). Use 'delante' when you're talking about something's fixed position *in front of* something else ('Estoy delante de la casa' - I'm in front of the house). A simple trick: if you can say 'forward' in English, use 'adelante'.
Can I use 'seguir adelante' to encourage a friend who is having a hard time?
Absolutely! 'Seguir adelante' is a wonderful phrase that means 'to keep going' or 'to move on' not just physically, but emotionally too. Telling a friend 'Tienes que seguir adelante' is a supportive way to say 'You have to keep going / move on.'