cercana
/sehr-KAH-nah/
close
Depicting physical proximity, the house is cercana (close) to the tree.
cercana(adjective)
close
?physical distance
,near
?physical distance
adjacent
?right next to something
📝 In Action
La escuela está muy cercana a mi casa.
A1The school is very close to my house.
Busco una panadería cercana, ¿conoces alguna?
A2I'm looking for a nearby bakery, do you know one?
💡 Grammar Points
Adjective Agreement
Since 'cercana' is an adjective, it must match the gender of the noun it describes. It ends in '-a' because it describes a feminine noun (like 'casa' or 'tienda').
❌ Common Pitfalls
Adjective vs. Adverb
Mistake: "Using 'cerca' (the adverb) when describing a noun: 'una cerca tienda'."
Correction: Use 'cercana' (the adjective) to describe the noun: 'una tienda cercana'. The adverb 'cerca' is used after verbs: 'Está cerca'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Using 'a'
When specifying what something is close to, you almost always use the preposition 'a': 'cercana a la estación' (close to the station).
The dark cloud signifies an imminent event—rain is cercana (imminent).
📝 In Action
La fecha de su jubilación es muy cercana.
B1The date of her retirement is very close/imminent.
Tenemos una reunión cercana para discutir el presupuesto.
B2We have an upcoming meeting to discuss the budget.
💡 Grammar Points
Time Expressions
When talking about time, 'cercana' often emphasizes that the event is happening very soon, often sooner than 'próxima' (next).
Illustrating a strong bond, their relationship is cercana (close).
cercana(adjective)
close
?relationship/emotional
,intimate
?relationship
familiar
?style or manner
📝 In Action
Mi hermana y yo tenemos una relación muy cercana.
B2My sister and I have a very close relationship.
Ella es una colaboradora cercana del director general.
C1She is a close collaborator of the CEO.
💡 Grammar Points
Emotional Distance
When 'cercana' describes people or relationships, it means there is a strong emotional connection, like a 'close friend' or a 'close family member'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Formal vs. Informal
This meaning is often used in business or professional settings to describe a strong working relationship, not just a personal one.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: cercana
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'cercana' to describe a relationship, not a physical location?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
¿Cuál es la diferencia entre 'cerca' y 'cercana'?
'Cerca' is an adverb (like 'quickly' or 'slowly') and never changes its form; it means 'nearby' or 'close by.' 'Cercana' is an adjective (like 'big' or 'small') and must change its ending to match the feminine noun it describes, meaning 'close' or 'near'.