lejos
/LEH-hoss/
far
The primary meaning of lejos is 'far' or 'far away,' describing a large physical distance, such as the mountain range viewed from the house.
lejos(Adverb)
far
?Describing distance
,far away
?Describing distance
a long way off
?Slightly more emphatic
📝 In Action
Mi casa está lejos de la escuela.
A1My house is far from the school.
¿Vives muy lejos de aquí?
A1Do you live very far from here?
El aeropuerto no está lejos.
A2The airport isn't far.
Se puede ver la montaña a lo lejos.
B1You can see the mountain in the distance.
💡 Grammar Points
Using 'lejos de'
To say something is far from another thing, you always use 'lejos de'. For example, 'Madrid está lejos de Barcelona' (Madrid is far from Barcelona).
Always Stays the Same
'Lejos' is an adverb, which is a word that describes an action or a state. This means it doesn't change for gender or number. It's always 'lejos', never 'leja' or 'lejosas'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'ser' instead of 'estar'
Mistake: "La tienda es lejos."
Correction: La tienda está lejos. When you're talking about the location of something, even if it's a permanent location, you almost always use the verb 'estar'.
Confusing 'lejos' and 'lejano'
Mistake: "Vivo en una casa lejos."
Correction: Vivo en una casa lejana OR Vivo lejos. 'Lejos' tells *where* you live (far away). 'Lejano'/'lejana' is an adjective that describes the house itself (a distant house).
⭐ Usage Tips
'De lejos'
The phrase 'de lejos' can mean 'from a distance' (Vi el accidente de lejos) or 'by far' (Es el mejor de lejos).
Figuratively, lejos means 'far from,' indicating a large gap or difference, such as being 'far from finishing' a difficult task.
lejos(Adverb)
far from
?Figurative, not close to being something
a long way from
?Figurative, indicating a large gap
📝 In Action
Estoy lejos de terminar mi trabajo.
B1I'm far from finishing my work.
Su idea está lejos de ser práctica.
B2His idea is far from being practical.
Lejos de enojarse, se echó a reír.
B2Far from getting angry, he started laughing.
💡 Grammar Points
Structure: 'lejos de' + Verb/Noun
This figurative use often follows the pattern 'lejos de' + a base verb (like 'terminar') or 'lejos de' + a noun (like 'la verdad').
⭐ Usage Tips
Showing Contrast
Use this to show a big, often surprising, contrast between what is expected and what is true. 'Lejos de ayudar, complicó todo' (Far from helping, he complicated everything).
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: lejos
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence means 'You are far from understanding the situation'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'lejos' and 'lejano'?
'Lejos' is an adverb, a word that tells you *where* something is or happens (e.g., 'Vivo lejos' - I live far away). 'Lejano/a' is an adjective, a word that describes a person or thing (e.g., 'Es un país lejano' - It's a distant country). Adverbs don't change, but adjectives must match the noun they describe.
Do I always need to say 'lejos de'?
No. You only add 'de' when you are specifying what something is far *from*. If you're just making a general statement that something is far away, you just use 'lejos'. For example: 'El supermercado está lejos' (The supermarket is far away) vs. 'El supermercado está lejos de mi casa' (The supermarket is far from my house).