ante

/AN-tay/

PrepositionB1

before?in the presence of, facing a person/authority,in the face of?when confronted with a situation or problem

Also:given?considering the circumstances,in view of?taking into account

📝 In Action

El testigo declaró ante el juez.

The witness testified before the judge.

Ante la falta de pruebas, lo dejaron ir.

In the face of the lack of evidence, they let him go.

Mostró gran valentía ante el peligro.

He showed great bravery in the face of danger.

Ante todo, la seguridad es lo más importante.

Above all, safety is the most important thing.

Word Connections

Synonyms

delante de (in front of)
frente a (facing, opposite)

Antonyms

detrás de (behind)
tras (after, behind)

Common Collocations

ante la ley – before the law
ante la duda – when in doubt
ante todo – above all

💡 Grammar Points

When to Use 'Ante' vs. 'Delante de'

Use 'ante' for more abstract or formal situations, like being 'before' a judge or 'in the face of' a problem. Use 'delante de' for simple physical location, like 'the car is in front of the house'.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Confusing 'Ante' (Position) with 'Antes' (Time)

Mistake: "Llegué a la fiesta ante de ti."

Correction: Llegué a la fiesta antes de ti. 'Ante' is about facing something or someone. 'Antes' is about time (before).

⭐ Usage Tips

Sounding More Formal

In writing or official speeches, choosing 'ante' instead of 'delante de' can make your Spanish sound more sophisticated. It's very common in news reports and legal documents.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: ante

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence uses 'ante' to mean a type of material?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

anterior(previous, front) - adjective

antebrazo(forearm) - noun

antepasado(ancestor) - noun

antelación(advance notice) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between 'ante', 'delante de', and 'antes de'?

Great question! 'Ante' is a formal way to say 'in front of' or 'faced with' (e.g., ante el problema). 'Delante de' is the common, everyday way to say 'in front of' a physical thing (e.g., delante del coche). And 'antes de' is completely different; it's about time and means 'before' (e.g., antes de comer).

Is 'ante' a common word in daily conversation?

As a preposition ('before'), it's not very common in casual chat; people usually say 'delante de'. You'll hear it more in the news, speeches, or formal settings. As a noun ('suede'), it's perfectly normal to use when talking about clothes or furniture.