lejano
“lejano” means “far” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
far
Also: remote, far-off
📝 In Action
El pueblo más cercano está lejano; tardaremos dos horas en llegar.
A1The nearest town is far; it will take us two hours to arrive.
La casa lejana que vimos era muy antigua.
A2The distant house we saw was very old.
Necesitamos un telescopio para ver las estrellas lejanas.
B1We need a telescope to see the distant stars.
distant
Also: remote, vague
📝 In Action
Tengo recuerdos lejanos de cuando era muy pequeño.
B1I have distant memories of when I was very young.
La posibilidad de que eso suceda es muy lejana.
B2The possibility of that happening is very remote (unlikely).
Nuestros antepasados vivieron en una época muy lejana.
B2Our ancestors lived in a very distant era.
🔀 Commonly Confused With
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: lejano
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'lejano' to describe time, not physical distance?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Old Spanish 'lexano', which derived from the Latin word *laxanus*, meaning 'wide' or 'extended.' The idea shifted from describing a 'wide' space to a 'far' distance.
First recorded: Medieval Spanish
Cognates (Related words)
💡 Master Spanish
Take your Spanish to the next level. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories tailored to your level with the Inklingo app!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'lejano' and 'lejos'?
'Lejano' is an adjective, meaning it describes a noun (a person, place, or thing): 'La playa lejana' (The far beach). 'Lejos' is an adverb, meaning it describes where an action happens: 'Vivimos lejos' (We live far).