fuera
“fuera” means “outside” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
📝 In Action
El gato está fuera, en el jardín.
A1The cat is outside, in the garden.
Prefiero comer fuera esta noche.
A2I prefer to eat out tonight.
Mi jefe está fuera de la oficina hasta el lunes.
A2My boss is out of the office until Monday.
¡Fuera de mi cuarto!
B1Out of my room!
were
Also: was
📝 In Action
Si yo fuera tú, aceptaría el trabajo.
B1If I were you, I would accept the job.
Ojalá fuera tan fácil.
B1I wish it were that easy.
Se comporta como si fuera el jefe.
B2He behaves as if he were the boss.
No creía que el examen fuera difícil.
B2I didn't believe the exam was difficult.
went
Also: were to go, should go
📝 In Action
Mi madre quería que yo fuera al supermercado.
B1My mother wanted me to go to the supermarket.
No me sorprendería que él no fuera a la reunión.
B2It wouldn't surprise me if he didn't go to the meeting.
Te lo daría si fuera posible.
B2I would give it to you if it were possible.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
🔀 Commonly Confused With
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: fuera
Question 1 of 3
Which sentence uses 'fuera' to mean 'were' (from the verb 'to be')?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
The word 'fuera' has two separate origins. As an adverb meaning 'outside', it comes from the Latin word 'foras' (out of doors). As a verb form, it comes from the Latin imperfect subjunctive forms of two different verbs: 'fueram' (from 'esse', to be) and a separate form from 'ire' (to go).
First recorded: 10th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
How can 'fuera' be a form of both 'ser' (to be) and 'ir' (to go)? They look the same!
It's a quirk of Spanish history! The verb forms for 'ser' and 'ir' merged over time in some tenses. While they look and sound identical, you can always tell the difference from the context. If the sentence is about identity, characteristics, or a state of being ('if I were rich'), it's from 'ser'. If it's about movement or going to a place ('he asked me to go'), it's from 'ir'.
What's the difference between 'fuera' and 'afuera'?
For the most part, you can use them interchangeably to mean 'outside'. Some speakers feel that 'afuera' suggests movement ('Salí afuera' - I went outside), while 'fuera' describes a static location ('Estoy fuera' - I am outside). But in everyday conversation, people use both without a big difference in meaning.
Why do I need to use 'fuera' in sentences like 'Si yo fuera...' instead of 'Si yo era...'?
This is a special verb form called the subjunctive. Spanish uses it for situations that aren't real facts—like wishes, doubts, or 'what if' scenarios. 'Era' is for describing things that actually were true in the past. 'Fuera' is for imagining things that are not true right now ('If I were...').