afuera
/ah-FWEH-rah/
outside
As an adverb, afuera means 'outside' or 'outdoors'. The dog is playing afuera in the garden.
afuera(Adverb)
outside
?General location not inside a building or space
,outdoors
?In the open air
out
?As in 'to go out' or 'to eat out'
📝 In Action
El perro está jugando afuera en el jardín.
A1The dog is playing outside in the garden.
Hace un día precioso, ¿comemos afuera?
A2It's a beautiful day, shall we eat outside?
Si tienes calor, sal afuera a tomar un poco de aire.
A2If you're hot, go outside to get some air.
Desde mi ventana puedo ver lo que pasa afuera.
B1From my window I can see what's happening outside.
💡 Grammar Points
Afuera vs. Fuera
These two words are very similar and often used in the same way. Think of 'afuera' as suggesting movement 'to the outside' (like 'sal afuera' - go outside). 'Fuera' often describes a fixed position 'at the outside' (like 'está fuera' - he is outside). But don't worry, in most everyday situations, you can use either one and people will understand you perfectly.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Saying 'Outside Of'
Mistake: "Quiero sentarme afuera del café."
Correction: Quiero sentarme fuera del café. (I want to sit outside the café.) When you want to say 'outside of' a specific place, it sounds a little more natural to use 'fuera de' instead of 'afuera de'. Both are understood, but 'fuera de' is more common.
⭐ Usage Tips
Pairing with Motion Verbs
'Afuera' works great with verbs that show movement, like 'ir' (to go), 'salir' (to leave/go out), and 'llevar' (to take). For example, 'Lleva la basura afuera' (Take the trash outside).
Used as an interjection, ¡Afuera! means 'Out!' or 'Get out!' and serves as a forceful command to leave.
📝 In Action
¡Afuera! No quiero volver a verte por aquí.
B1Out! I don't want to see you around here again.
El guardia de seguridad le gritó al ladrón: '¡Afuera de aquí ahora mismo!'
B2The security guard yelled at the thief: 'Get out of here right now!'
⭐ Usage Tips
Use with Care
Shouting '¡Afuera!' is very strong and direct. It's something you'd hear in a movie or a very tense situation. Use it when you want to forcefully tell someone or something to leave immediately.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: afuera
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'afuera' to mean you are going to eat at a restaurant?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the real difference between 'afuera' and 'fuera'?
They are very, very similar and often you can use either one. A small tip is that 'afuera' often suggests movement ('Vamos afuera' - Let's go outside), while 'fuera' can feel more like a fixed location ('Él está fuera' - He is outside). But honestly, don't stress about it! People will understand you with either word. Usage also changes by region; 'afuera' is more common in Latin America, and 'fuera' is more common in Spain.
Can I use 'afuera' to talk about the suburbs of a city?
Almost! For that, you use the plural form: 'las afueras'. For example, 'Vivo en las afueras de la ciudad' means 'I live in the outskirts/suburbs of the city'.