lado
“lado” means “side” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
side
Also: flank, face
📝 In Action
El supermercado está al otro lado de la calle.
A1The supermarket is on the other side of the street.
Me duele el lado izquierdo del cuerpo.
A1The left side of my body hurts.
Escribe tu nombre en un lado del papel.
A2Write your name on one side of the paper.
next to / beside
📝 In Action
La farmacia está al lado del banco.
A1The pharmacy is next to the bank.
Siéntate a mi lado, por favor.
A2Sit beside me, please.
Dejé las llaves al lado del teléfono.
A2I left the keys next to the phone.
side
Also: aspect, facet
📝 In Action
Intenta ver el lado positivo de la situación.
B1Try to see the positive side of the situation.
Todos tenemos un lado oscuro.
B1We all have a dark side.
Por un lado, quiero ir. Por otro lado, estoy muy cansado.
B2On the one hand, I want to go. On the other hand, I'm very tired.
Translate to Spanish
🗣️ Practice in a Tongue Twister
✏️ 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▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin word 'latus', which meant 'side' or 'flank'. It's a very direct descendant, keeping almost the exact same meaning for centuries!
First recorded: Around the 10th century
Cognates (Related words)
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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.