otro

/OH-troh/

A person at a cafe table is shown two identical cups of tea; they are pointing to a third, different-looking cup on a tray, indicating a preference for that one.

Here, 'otro' is used to describe something as 'another' or 'different,' like choosing 'otro' color or 'otro' asiento (another seat).

otro (Adjective)

mA1

another?an additional one,other?a different one

📝 In Action

¿Quieres otro café?

Do you want another coffee?

Prefiero el otro coche, el azul.

I prefer the other car, the blue one.

Necesito otras llaves para la puerta.

I need other keys for the door.

Nos vemos otro día, cuando tengas más tiempo.

We'll see each other another day, when you have more time.

Word Connections

Synonyms

diferente (different)
distinto (distinct)
adicional (additional)

Antonyms

mismo (same)

Common Collocations

otro día – another day
por otro lado – on the other hand
de una forma u otra – one way or another

💡 Grammar Points

Matches the Noun's Gender and Number

'Otro' changes to match the thing it describes. Use 'otra' for feminine things (otra casa), 'otros' for masculine plural things (otros libros), and 'otras' for feminine plural things (otras chicas).

Goes Before the Noun

Unlike many Spanish adjectives, 'otro' almost always comes right before the noun it's describing. Think 'otro libro' (another book), not 'libro otro'.

❌ Common Pitfalls

The #1 Mistake: Using 'un' or 'una'

Mistake: "Quiero un otro vaso."

Correction: Say 'Quiero otro vaso'. In Spanish, 'otro' already includes the idea of 'an' or 'one'. You never need to add 'un' or 'una' before it. Think of 'otro' as meaning 'an-other' all in one word.

⭐ Usage Tips

Emphasizing 'One More'

To be extra clear you want 'one more' of the same thing, you can add 'más' after the noun. For example: '¿Quieres otro café más?' (Do you want one more coffee?).

A person in a store is holding a red shirt but looking at and pointing to a blue shirt on a rack, choosing 'the other one' without naming it.

Standing alone, 'otro' replaces a noun. It means 'another one' or 'the other one,' so you don't have to repeat yourself.

otro (Pronoun)

mA2

another one?an additional item,the other one?the different item

Also:someone else / somebody else?referring to a person

📝 In Action

No me gusta este. ¿Me enseñas otro?

I don't like this one. Can you show me another one?

Una galleta estaba rica, pero la otra estaba quemada.

One cookie was tasty, but the other one was burnt.

Algunos fueron a la playa, otros se quedaron en casa.

Some went to the beach, others stayed home.

Eso es problema de otro, no mío.

That's someone else's problem, not mine.

Word Connections

Common Collocations

el uno al otro / la una a la otra – each other / one another

Idioms & Expressions

ser otro cantar – to be a different story / a whole other matter

💡 Grammar Points

A Shortcut Word

Use 'otro' by itself to avoid repeating a noun you just mentioned. Instead of '¿Quieres otro café?', if the context is clear, you can just ask '¿Quieres otro?'.

Still Matches Gender and Number

Even when used alone, 'otro' must match the gender and number of the noun it's replacing. 'Me gustó la película, ¿vemos otra?' (I liked the movie, shall we see another one?).

❌ Common Pitfalls

Forgetting the Article for 'The Other One'

Mistake: "Uno es mío, y otro es tuyo."

Correction: Say 'Uno es mío, y el otro es tuyo' (One is mine, and the other one is yours). When you mean 'the other specific one', you need to add 'el', 'la', 'los', or 'las'.

⭐ Usage Tips

Talking About People

When 'otro/a' refers to an unspecified person, it means 'someone else' or 'somebody else'. For example, 'No te preocupes, lo hará otro' (Don't worry, someone else will do it).

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: otro

Question 1 of 3

Which sentence is the correct way to ask for 'another beer' in Spanish?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

otrora(formerly, in other times) - adverb

nosotros(we) - pronoun

vosotros(you (plural, informal)) - pronoun

Frequently Asked Questions

Why can't I say 'un otro'? It feels so natural!

It's a very common feeling for English speakers! The best way to remember is that the Spanish word 'otro' already has the 'an' or 'a' built into its meaning. Think of 'otro' as a single package that means 'an-other'. Saying 'un otro' is like saying 'an another' in English—it's redundant.

What's the difference between 'otro' and 'diferente'?

'Otro' can mean 'different', but it often means 'additional' or 'one more'. 'Diferente' only means 'different' or 'not the same'. If you want one more cookie, you'd ask for 'otra galleta'. If you want a cookie that's not chocolate chip, you could ask for 'una galleta diferente'.

How do I say 'each other' or 'one another'?

You use a phrase with 'otro'. For two people, you'd say 'el uno al otro' (for men or a mixed group) or 'la una a la otra' (for women). For example, 'Se ayudan el uno al otro' means 'They help each other'.