frente
/FREN-tay/
forehead
La frente (feminine) refers to the forehead, a part of the human face.
📝 In Action
Me duele la frente porque tengo dolor de cabeza.
A2My forehead hurts because I have a headache.
El niño se dio un golpe en la frente.
A2The child hit his forehead.
💡 Grammar Points
Gender Alert: The Body Part
When talking about the body part, 'frente' is feminine. Always use 'la' or other feminine words with it, like 'la frente' or 'una frente amplia' (a wide forehead).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using the Wrong Gender
Mistake: "Me duele el frente."
Correction: Me duele la frente. Remember, the body part is always feminine ('la').
El frente (masculine) means the front part or façade of an object, such as a house or building.
📝 In Action
El frente de la casa necesita una capa de pintura.
B1The front of the house needs a coat of paint.
Los soldados están en el frente de batalla.
B1The soldiers are at the battlefront.
Se acerca un frente frío desde el norte.
B2A cold front is approaching from the north.
💡 Grammar Points
Gender Alert: The 'Front' of Something
When talking about the 'front' of a building, a war, or a weather system, 'frente' is masculine. Always use 'el' or other masculine words with it, like 'el frente' or 'un frente unido' (a united front).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using the Wrong Gender
Mistake: "La frente de la casa es bonita."
Correction: El frente de la casa es bonito. Remember, the front of an object is always masculine ('el').
Frente a is a common prepositional phrase meaning 'in front of' or 'opposite' (as in, facing something directly).
frente(Prepositional Phrase)
in front of
?location
,opposite
?location
facing
?direction
,in the face of
?figurative, e.g., a challenge
,compared to
?comparison
📝 In Action
Mi casa está frente al parque.
A2My house is in front of the park.
Se sentó frente a mí.
A2She sat opposite me.
Frente a este problema, debemos actuar.
B2In the face of this problem, we must act.
💡 Grammar Points
Contracting 'a + el'
When 'frente a' is followed by the masculine word 'el' (the), they combine to form 'al'. For example, 'frente a el parque' becomes 'frente al parque'.
⭐ Usage Tips
'Frente a' vs. 'Delante de'
'Frente a' usually means you are facing something directly ('opposite'). 'Delante de' just means something is in front of you, but you might not be facing it. For a car parked in front of your house, both work. For sitting opposite someone at a table, 'frente a' is better.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: frente
Question 1 of 3
Which sentence is correct for saying 'I have a headache in my forehead'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the easiest way to remember if 'frente' is 'el' or 'la'?
Think of it this way: 'la frente' is on a person ('la persona'), so it's feminine. 'El frente' is on a building ('el edificio') or a battle ('el campo de batalla'), so it's masculine. Link it to a word you already know!
Is there a difference between 'frente a' and 'enfrente de'?
They are very similar and often interchangeable for 'in front of' or 'opposite'. 'Enfrente de' is slightly more common in everyday conversation. 'Frente a' can also have a more formal or figurative meaning, like 'in the face of a challenge'.