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📖3 definitions
📚 fuera has 3 definitions
A happy dog sitting on the grass just outside an open door, looking out from the house. This illustrates the meaning 'outside'.

fuera

/FWEH-rah/

Adverb & InterjectionA1
outside?referring to location,out?as a command, e.g., 'Get out!'
Also:away?as in 'to be away on a trip'

📝 In Action

El gato está fuera, en el jardín.

A1

The cat is outside, in the garden.

Prefiero comer fuera esta noche.

A2

I prefer to eat out tonight.

Mi jefe está fuera de la oficina hasta el lunes.

A2

My boss is out of the office until Monday.

¡Fuera de mi cuarto!

B1

Out of my room!

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • afuera (outside)

Antonyms

  • dentro (inside)

Common Collocations

  • comer fuera – to eat out
  • fuera de casa – out of the house, away from home
  • por fuera – on the outside

Idioms & Expressions

  • estar fuera de lugar – to be out of place, inappropriate
  • estar fuera de sí – to be beside oneself (with anger, joy, etc.)

💡 Grammar Points

'Fuera' vs. 'Afuera'

In many cases, 'fuera' and 'afuera' mean the same thing ('outside'). 'Afuera' can sometimes suggest movement towards the outside ('vamos afuera' - let's go outside), but don't worry too much, they are often used interchangeably.

⭐ Usage Tips

As a Command

Shouting '¡Fuera!' is a very strong and direct way to tell someone or something to leave. It's like saying 'Get out!'

✏️ 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

afuera(outside) - adverb
exterior(exterior, outside) - adjective/noun
forastero(stranger, outsider) - noun

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...').