lado

/la-doh/

side

Illustrating the physical side of an object.

lado(Noun)

mA1

side?of an object, body, or place

Also:flank?military or animal,face?of a geometric shape

📝 In Action

El supermercado está al otro lado de la calle.

The supermarket is on the other side of the street.

Me duele el lado izquierdo del cuerpo.

The left side of my body hurts.

Escribe tu nombre en un lado del papel.

Write your name on one side of the paper.

Word Connections

Synonyms

costado (side (especially of the body))

Antonyms

centro (center)

Common Collocations

de lado a lado – from side to side
lado derecho/izquierdo – right/left side
el otro lado – the other side

Idioms & Expressions

dejar de lado – to put aside, to ignore
mirar de lado – to look at someone sideways, with suspicion

💡 Grammar Points

Always Masculine

'Lado' is always a masculine word, so you'll always say 'el lado' or 'un lado', never 'la' or 'una'.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Using 'Lado' for Clothing

Mistake: "Me gusta esta lada de la camisa."

Correction: Me gusta este lado de la camisa. Remember, 'lado' is always masculine, even when talking about something that is feminine, like 'la camisa'.

⭐ Usage Tips

Direction and Location

'Lado' is your go-to word for talking about location relative to something else, like 'the left side of the room' or 'the other side of the river'.

Representing the concept of being next to or beside something.

lado(Noun)

mA1

next to / beside?used in the fixed phrase 'al lado de'

📝 In Action

La farmacia está al lado del banco.

The pharmacy is next to the bank.

Siéntate a mi lado, por favor.

Sit beside me, please.

Dejé las llaves al lado del teléfono.

I left the keys next to the phone.

Word Connections

Synonyms

junto a (next to, close to)

Antonyms

lejos de (far from)

Common Collocations

al lado de – next to, beside
justo al lado – right next to

💡 Grammar Points

The Phrase 'Al lado de'

Think of 'al lado de' as a single chunk that means 'next to'. The 'a' and 'el' are squished together to make 'al'. You'll almost always see it this way.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Forgetting 'de'

Mistake: "Estoy al lado la ventana."

Correction: Estoy al lado de la ventana. Don't forget the 'de' when you say what something is next to!

Visualizing an abstract aspect or facet of a personality or situation.

lado(Noun)

mB1

side?aspect of a personality or situation

Also:aspect?a particular part or feature,facet?one side of something many-sided

📝 In Action

Intenta ver el lado positivo de la situación.

Try to see the positive side of the situation.

Todos tenemos un lado oscuro.

We all have a dark side.

Por un lado, quiero ir. Por otro lado, estoy muy cansado.

On the one hand, I want to go. On the other hand, I'm very tired.

Word Connections

Synonyms

aspecto (aspect)
faceta (facet)

Common Collocations

lado bueno/malo – good/bad side
lado positivo/negativo – positive/negative side
lado humano – human side
por un lado... por otro lado – on the one hand... on the other hand

⭐ Usage Tips

Talking About People and Problems

When you want to describe a part of someone's personality or a different way of looking at a problem, this meaning of 'lado' is perfect. Think 'the funny side', 'the serious side', etc.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: lado

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence uses 'lado' to talk about an aspect of a situation, not a physical place?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

ladear(to tilt, to lean) - verb

lateral(lateral, side) - adjective

aledaño(adjacent, neighboring) - adjective

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between 'al lado de' and 'junto a'?

They are very similar and often you can use either one for 'next to'. 'Junto a' can sometimes feel a little closer or suggest more togetherness, but for most everyday situations, they mean the same thing.

How do I say 'on the one hand... on the other hand'?

You use 'lado' for this too! The phrase is 'Por un lado... y por otro lado...'. It's a great way to show two different sides of an argument or situation.