lados
“lados” means “sides” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
sides
Also: flanks, edges
📝 In Action
Los cuatro lados de la caja deben ser sellados.
A1The four sides of the box must be sealed.
Me duele la espalda y los lados del cuerpo.
A2My back and the sides of my body hurt.
Puso el libro con los lados hacia arriba.
A1He placed the book with the sides facing up.
places
Also: directions
📝 In Action
Hemos buscado las llaves por todos lados.
A2We have looked for the keys everywhere (in all places).
El perro corre de un lado a otros lados del jardín.
A2The dog runs from one side to other parts of the garden.
parties, sides
Also: camps
📝 In Action
Los dos lados de la discusión no pueden llegar a un acuerdo.
B1The two sides of the discussion cannot reach an agreement.
Necesitamos escuchar a ambos lados antes de juzgar.
B2We need to listen to both parties before judging.
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: lados
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'lados' in the directional sense (meaning 'everywhere')?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes directly from the Latin word *latus*, meaning 'side' or 'flank.' Its meaning has remained consistent throughout its history in Spanish.
First recorded: 10th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most common phrase using 'lados' that means 'everywhere'?
The most common phrase is 'por todos lados,' which translates literally to 'through all sides' but means 'everywhere' or 'all over.' For movement, you often hear 'a todos lados' (to all places).
Does 'lados' ever refer to a person's family or lineage?
Yes, although less common than the physical meaning. When discussing family, 'lados' can be used to say 'por el lado de mi madre' (on my mother's side) when talking about relatives.