Inklingo
Get the App
← Dictionary

dentro

/DEN-troh/

inside

A single red wooden block resting clearly on the bottom floor inside a large, open blue wooden crate, illustrating the concept of 'inside'.

The block is completely inside the crate, representing the general location indicated by the adverb 'dentro'.

dentro(Adverb)

A1
inside?General location
Also:indoors?As opposed to outdoors

📝 In Action

Hace frío, vamos a jugar dentro.

A1

It's cold, let's play inside.

Por favor, espere dentro.

A2

Please, wait inside.

Miró hacia dentro, pero no vio a nadie.

B1

He looked inside, but he didn't see anyone.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • adentro (inside (often implying motion))

Antonyms

  • fuera (outside)
  • afuera (outside)

Common Collocations

  • quedarse dentro – to stay inside
  • por dentro – on the inside

💡 Grammar Points

Answering 'Where?'

Use 'dentro' by itself to answer the question '¿Dónde?' (Where?). It tells you the general location of something without needing to say what it's inside of.

❌ Common Pitfalls

'dentro' vs. 'adentro'

Mistake: "Using 'dentro' and 'adentro' exactly the same way."

Correction: 'Dentro' is a general location. 'Adentro' often suggests movement *into* a place. For example, '¡Vamos adentro!' (Let's go inside!). When in doubt, 'dentro' is usually a safe choice.

⭐ Usage Tips

Use it Alone

Unlike in English where you might say 'inside the house', 'dentro' can stand on its own. If someone asks '¿Dónde estás?' (Where are you?), you can simply reply, 'Estoy dentro' (I'm inside).

A set of shiny silver car keys resting on the driver's seat inside an open, simplified red toy car, illustrating 'inside of' a specific object.

The keys are shown clearly inside of the car, visualizing the structure 'dentro de' (inside of) a defined space.

dentro(Phrase)

A2
inside of?Referring to a physical space,in?Referring to a future point in time
Also:within?Referring to a period of time or a boundary

📝 In Action

Las llaves están dentro del coche.

A2

The keys are inside the car.

La reunión empieza dentro de cinco minutos.

B1

The meeting starts in five minutes.

Debes completar la tarea dentro de una semana.

B1

You must complete the task within a week.

Hay mucha alegría dentro de esta casa.

B2

There is a lot of joy inside this house.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • en el interior de (in the interior of)

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • dentro de poco – soon / in a little while
  • dentro de lo que cabe – all things considered / within reason
  • dentro de un rato – in a little while

💡 Grammar Points

The Super-Useful Phrase: 'dentro de'

When you want to say that something is inside of something else, you almost always need to use 'dentro de'. This little word 'de' connects 'inside' to the object.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Forgetting 'de'

Mistake: "Tengo el dinero dentro mi cartera."

Correction: Tengo el dinero dentro **de** mi cartera. You need 'de' to link 'dentro' (inside) to the thing it's inside of ('mi cartera').

⭐ Usage Tips

Talking About the Future

A super common and useful way to talk about the near future is with 'dentro de' + a time period. 'Dentro de diez minutos' means 'in ten minutes'.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: dentro

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence is correct?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

adentro(inside) - adverb
interior(interior, inside) - adjective/noun

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between 'dentro' and 'adentro'?

They're very similar! 'Dentro' is more of a general location ('Estamos dentro' - We are inside). 'Adentro' often suggests movement *into* a place ('¡Vamos adentro!' - Let's go inside!). If you're ever unsure, 'dentro' is usually the safer bet.

Can I just say 'en' instead of 'dentro de'?

Sometimes, but 'dentro de' is often clearer. To say 'The keys are in the car,' you can say 'Las llaves están en el coche.' But 'Las llaves están dentro del coche' emphasizes that they are physically *inside* it. For time, like 'in 5 minutes,' 'dentro de 5 minutos' is the most common and correct way to say it.