avance
/ah-VAHN-say/
progress
Avance can mean progress, like moving closer to a goal.
avance(noun)
progress
?general improvement or movement toward a goal
,advance
?a forward movement or step
breakthrough
?significant step forward in research or technology
,development
?a stage of growth
📝 In Action
Hemos hecho un gran avance en el proyecto esta semana.
B1We have made great progress on the project this week.
El avance de la tecnología es impresionante.
A2The advance of technology is impressive.
El ejército ordenó el avance de las tropas.
B2The army ordered the advance of the troops.
💡 Grammar Points
Masculine Noun Rule
Even though this word ends in '-e', it is always masculine, meaning you must use 'el' (el avance) or 'un' (un avance) before it.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'el' vs 'la'
Mistake: "La avance"
Correction: El avance. Remember that 'avance' is masculine, so it always pairs with 'el'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Use with 'Hacer'
To say 'to make progress', Spanish speakers often use the verb 'hacer' (to do/make): 'hacer un avance'.
When making a large purchase, avance can refer to the down payment.
avance(noun)
down payment
?initial payment for a purchase
cash advance
?money given before it is due
,deposit
?money paid to secure a reservation (less common than 'depósito')
📝 In Action
Tienes que dar un avance del 10% para reservar el coche.
B1You have to give a 10% down payment to reserve the car.
Pedí un avance de mi sueldo para pagar las cuentas.
B2I asked for a cash advance on my salary to pay the bills.
⭐ Usage Tips
Financial Synonyms
In many regions, 'anticipo' is used more frequently than 'avance' when talking about a down payment or advance payment.
A common meaning for avance is a trailer or preview of a film.
avance(noun)
trailer
?a short preview of a movie or show
,preview
?a sneak peek of upcoming content
teaser
?a very short promotional clip
📝 In Action
Vi el avance de la nueva película y parece muy buena.
A2I saw the trailer for the new movie and it looks very good.
El noticiero mostró un avance de las noticias de mañana.
B1The news program showed a preview of tomorrow's news.
⭐ Usage Tips
Media Context
When talking about movies or TV, 'avance' is a great, purely Spanish alternative to the Anglicism 'tráiler'.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: avance
Question 1 of 2
Which English word best translates 'avance' in the sentence: 'El avance del 20% es obligatorio.'
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'avance' the same as 'adelanto'?
They are very close synonyms! Both mean 'advance' or 'progress.' 'Avance' is often used for scientific or military progress, while 'adelanto' is very common for financial advances (like getting paid early) and general progress.
How do I know if 'avance' means 'progress' or 'trailer'?
Context is key. If you are talking about research, technology, or a project, it means 'progress.' If you are talking about a movie, show, or news segment, it means 'trailer' or 'preview'.