cercanos
/ser-KAH-nos/
near
These two houses are cercanos (near) because they are physically close to each other.
cercanos(Adjective)
near
?physical proximity
,close (by)
?physical proximity
neighboring
?describing places
,approaching
?temporal proximity
📝 In Action
Los hoteles más cercanos a la playa están llenos.
A1The hotels nearest to the beach are full.
Necesitamos un médico. ¿Hay algunos centros de salud cercanos?
A2We need a doctor. Are there any nearby health centers?
En los días cercanos al examen, estudiamos mucho.
B1In the days close to the exam, we studied a lot.
💡 Grammar Points
Adjective Agreement
Since 'cercanos' ends in -os, it must describe masculine, plural things (like 'hoteles' or 'días'). If the things were feminine, you would use 'cercanas' (e.g., 'casas cercanas').
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing Adjective and Adverb
Mistake: "La tienda es cercanos. (Incorrect agreement)"
Correction: La tienda está cerca. (Use the invariable adverb 'cerca' or the singular adjective 'cercana' if describing the store.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Use with 'a'
You often use 'cercanos a' when specifying what something is near: 'Los edificios cercanos al río' (The buildings near the river).
These two children are cercanos (close) because they share a strong relationship.
cercanos(Adjective)
close
?referring to relationships (friends, family)
,immediate
?immediate circle or family
intimate
?deep relationships
📝 In Action
Solo los familiares más cercanos saben la verdad.
B1Only the closest relatives know the truth.
Mis amigos más cercanos me ayudaron a mudarme.
A2My closest friends helped me move.
Los cercanos al jefe tienen mucha influencia.
B2Those close to the boss have a lot of influence. (Here 'cercanos' acts like a noun, meaning 'people close to him'.)
💡 Grammar Points
Acting as a Noun
Sometimes 'cercanos' stands alone, acting as a noun to mean 'the people who are close.' This happens when a noun (like 'people' or 'friends') is understood from the context.
⭐ Usage Tips
Emotional Closeness
Unlike English, which might use 'near' for both place and feeling, in Spanish, 'cercanos' describes both physical closeness and deep, trusted relationships.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: cercanos
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'cercanos' to describe a relationship rather than a location?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'cercanos' and the adverb 'cerca'?
'Cercanos' is an adjective, meaning it describes a noun (e.g., 'los amigos cercanos'). It changes form based on gender and number. 'Cerca' is an adverb that means 'near' or 'close by' and never changes form (e.g., 'La casa está cerca').
Why is this entry for 'cercanos' and not 'cercano'?
This entry focuses specifically on the masculine plural form. You use 'cercanos' when describing two or more masculine things or a mixed group of masculine and feminine things (e.g., 'los parientes cercanos' which includes male and female relatives).