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How to Say "in addition" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “in addition” is “además” — use 'además' when you want to add a supporting point, a further item, or simply another piece of information in a neutral or positive context..

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además

AdverbA1General
Use 'además' when you want to add a supporting point, a further item, or simply another piece of information in a neutral or positive context.

Examples

Quiero un café y, además, una galleta.

I want a coffee and, in addition, a cookie.

encima

/en-THEE-mah/ (Spain) or /en-SEE-mah/ (Latin America)/enˈθi.ma/ (Spain) or /enˈsi.ma/ (Latin America)

AdverbB1General
Use 'encima' when adding information that makes a situation worse, often implying 'on top of that' or 'to make matters worse'.
A simple cartoon bear struggling to carry a tall, unstable stack of colorful blocks. A single, large raindrop is falling from a small gray cloud directly onto the topmost block, symbolizing an additional problem.

Examples

El coche no arranca y, encima, está lloviendo.

The car won't start and, on top of that, it's raining.

Me ayudó con la mudanza y encima me invitó a cenar.

He helped me with the move and, in addition, he bought me dinner.

Trabajo mucho, gano poco y encima mi jefe me grita.

I work a lot, I earn little, and to make matters worse, my boss yells at me.

Connecting Ideas

This 'encima' connects two ideas, where the second one adds something extra or unexpected. It usually appears at the beginning of the second idea, often followed by a comma.

Using it without a first part

Mistake: “Encima, hace frío.”

Correction: Llegué tarde y, encima, hace frío. This meaning of 'encima' needs a previous statement to add on to. You can't just start a conversation with it.

Choosing Between 'Además' and 'Encima'

Learners often confuse 'además' and 'encima' because both add information. Remember that 'encima' carries a negative connotation, implying a worsening situation, while 'además' is neutral or positive for simply adding points.

Related Translations

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