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delante

deh-LAHN-tehdeˈlante

“delante” means “in front” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

in front

Also: ahead, at the front
A small, friendly rabbit stands a few steps ahead of a slow turtle on a simple dirt path, illustrating the concept of being 'ahead' or 'in front'.

📝 In Action

Mi casa es la que tiene un árbol grande delante.

A2

My house is the one with a big tree in front.

Caminaba unos pasos delante para guiar el camino.

B1

He was walking a few steps ahead to lead the way.

Pasa tú delante, por favor.

A1

You go ahead, please.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

  • detrás (behind)
  • atrás (behind, at the back)

Common Collocations

  • ir delante – to go ahead, to lead
  • estar delante – to be in front

in front of

Also: in the presence of
A1
A bright red ball is placed directly in front of a large, solid blue rectangular box, illustrating the prepositional phrase 'in front of'.

📝 In Action

Estoy esperando delante de la estación.

A1

I am waiting in front of the station.

El coche está aparcado delante de mi casa.

A1

The car is parked in front of my house.

No me gusta hablar delante de mucha gente.

B1

I don't like to speak in front of a lot of people.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • enfrente de (in front of, opposite)
  • ante (before, in the presence of (more formal))

Antonyms

  • detrás de (behind)

Idioms & Expressions

  • por delante de – ahead of someone (in a race, in progress)

🔀 Commonly Confused With

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "delante" in Spanish:

ahead→in front→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: delante

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence correctly says 'The teacher is in front of the students'?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

Comes from the Old Spanish phrase 'de en ante', which itself is from Latin. It literally means 'from in front'. Over time, the three words squished together to become 'delante'.

First recorded: Around the 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: dianteCatalan: davant

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Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between 'delante de' and 'enfrente de'?

They are very similar and often interchangeable! But there's a small difference. 'Delante de' simply means something is in a position ahead of you. 'Enfrente de' often implies 'facing' or 'opposite'. The building across the street is 'enfrente de' your house. The person in line ahead of you is 'delante de' ti.

And how is 'adelante' different from 'delante'?

It's all about movement vs. position. 'Delante' tells you WHERE something is (a static position). 'Adelante' tells you WHERE something is GOING (forward motion). For example: 'El coche está delante' (The car is in front). 'El coche va hacia adelante' (The car is going forward). Also, '¡Adelante!' is a common way to say 'Come in!' or 'Go ahead!'