cercano
/sehr-KAH-noh/
near
Use 'cercano' to describe something that is physically near.
📝 In Action
La farmacia está cercana, solo a dos minutos.
A1The pharmacy is nearby, only two minutes away.
Vivimos en pueblos cercanos, pero nunca nos habíamos conocido.
A2We live in nearby towns, but we had never met.
💡 Grammar Points
Adjective Agreement
Like many Spanish adjectives, 'cercano' must match the thing it describes. Use 'cercana' for feminine things (la casa), 'cercanos' for plural masculine, and 'cercanas' for plural feminine.
⭐ Usage Tips
Use with 'a'
When specifying what something is near, you often use the preposition 'a' (to/at): 'cercano a la estación' (near to the station).
'Cercano' can also mean that an event is imminent or about to happen.
📝 In Action
La celebración de su cumpleaños es cercana. ¡Debemos comprar un regalo!
B1His birthday celebration is imminent/soon. We must buy a gift!
En un futuro cercano, podremos viajar sin restricciones.
B2In the near future, we will be able to travel without restrictions.
⭐ Usage Tips
Using 'Próximo'
While 'cercano' works for time, 'próximo' is often more common for scheduled events: 'la próxima reunión' (the next meeting).
Describe an intimate or close relationship using 'cercano'.
cercano(adjective)
close
?intimate, relationship
,intimate
?relationship
familiar
?manner or style
,warm
?personality
📝 In Action
Ella es una persona muy cercana y siempre escucha a sus empleados.
B2She is a very warm/approachable person and always listens to her employees.
Solo compartí mi secreto con mis amigos más cercanos.
C1I only shared my secret with my closest friends.
💡 Grammar Points
Describing Personality
When 'cercano' describes a person's character, it means they are approachable, friendly, and easy to talk to, like saying they are 'close to people'.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: cercano
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'cercano' to describe a relationship, not distance or time?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'cercano' and 'cerca'?
'Cercano' is an adjective, meaning it describes a noun (e.g., 'el pueblo cercano' - the nearby town). 'Cerca' is an adverb, which describes where an action happens (e.g., 'Vive cerca' - He lives near/close by). 'Cerca' never changes its ending, but 'cercano' must match the noun (cercano/cercana/cercanos/cercanas).
Can I use 'cercano' to describe an estimate or approximation?
Yes. You can use it to talk about a 'close' estimate or number, such as 'un número cercano a cien' (a number close to one hundred).