frente
“frente” means “forehead” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
forehead
📝 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.
front
Also: front line, façade
📝 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.
in front of, opposite
Also: facing, in the face of, compared to
📝 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.
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: frente
Question 1 of 3
Which sentence is correct for saying 'I have a headache in my forehead'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin word 'frons' or 'frontis', which meant 'forehead' or 'front'. Spanish kept both meanings, using different genders to tell them apart.
First recorded: Around the 10th century
Cognates (Related words)
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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'.