Two brightly colored red chairs are placed directly opposite each other on a green lawn, separated by a narrow paved path, illustrating the concept of being opposite or across the way.

enfrente

en-FREN-teh

adverbA1

opposite?as in 'across the way' or 'facing'

Also:across from?when used with 'de',in front?when referring to a general forward area, but usually implies 'facing'

📝 In Action

El cine está justo enfrente.

The movie theater is right opposite/across the way.

Hay una farmacia enfrente de mi oficina.

There is a pharmacy across from my office.

Pusieron la mesa enfrente del sofá.

They put the table opposite the sofa.

Word Connections

Synonyms

frente a (facing)
opuesto (opposite)

Antonyms

detrás (behind)
al lado (next to)

Common Collocations

enfrente de – opposite of / across from

💡 Grammar Points

Using 'enfrente' with 'de'

To specify what is opposite, always use 'enfrente de' followed by the person or thing (e.g., 'enfrente de la escuela').

Using 'enfrente' alone

You can use 'enfrente' by itself when the location is clear from context, meaning 'across the way' or 'opposite here' (e.g., 'El café está enfrente').

❌ Common Pitfalls

Confusing 'Enfrente' and 'Delante'

Mistake: "Using 'enfrente de' when you mean 'in front of' but not necessarily facing (e.g., 'el coche está enfrente de la casa' when the car is parked right against the front door)."

Correction: Use 'delante de' for 'in front of' (positional) and 'enfrente de' only when two things are facing each other or directly across from each other.

⭐ Usage Tips

Visualizing 'Enfrente'

Think of two people standing face-to-face, or two buildings on opposite sides of a street. 'Enfrente' always implies this facing or opposing position.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: enfrente

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence correctly uses 'enfrente' to mean 'The park is across from the museum'?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

frente(front / forehead) - noun

afrontar(to face (a challenge)) - verb

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'enfrente' the same as 'frente a'?

They are very similar! 'Enfrente de' and 'frente a' both mean 'opposite' or 'facing.' 'Enfrente' can sometimes be used alone as an adverb ('It's opposite'), while 'frente a' is always followed by a noun or pronoun ('facing the house').

Do I need to put 'de' after 'enfrente'?

You need 'de' if you are naming the object it is opposite of (e.g., 'enfrente de la tienda'). If you are just saying 'It's across the way,' you can use 'enfrente' alone.