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How to Say "outside" in Spanish

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afuera

/ah-FWEH-rah//aˈfweɾa/

AdverbA1General
Use 'afuera' when referring to a general location that is not inside a building or a specific enclosed space.
A small dog playing with a red ball on bright green grass, clearly positioned outside a simple yellow house.

Examples

El perro está jugando afuera en el jardín.

The dog is playing outside in the garden.

Hace un día precioso, ¿comemos afuera?

It's a beautiful day, shall we eat outside?

Si tienes calor, sal afuera a tomar un poco de aire.

If you're hot, go outside to get some air.

Afuera vs. Fuera

These two words are very similar and often used in the same way. Think of 'afuera' as suggesting movement 'to the outside' (like 'sal afuera' - go outside). 'Fuera' often describes a fixed position 'at the outside' (like 'está fuera' - he is outside). But don't worry, in most everyday situations, you can use either one and people will understand you perfectly.

Saying 'Outside Of'

Mistake: “Quiero sentarme afuera del café.”

Correction: Quiero sentarme fuera del café. (I want to sit outside the café.) When you want to say 'outside of' a specific place, it sounds a little more natural to use 'fuera de' instead of 'afuera de'. Both are understood, but 'fuera de' is more common.

fuera

/FWEH-rah//ˈfweɾa/

Adverb & InterjectionA1General
Use 'fuera' to indicate that something or someone is not indoors or within a particular area, often interchangeable with 'afuera' for general location.
A happy dog sitting on the grass just outside an open door, looking out from the house. This illustrates the meaning 'outside'.

Examples

El gato está fuera, en el jardín.

The cat is outside, in the garden.

Prefiero comer fuera esta noche.

I prefer to eat out tonight.

Mi jefe está fuera de la oficina hasta el lunes.

My boss is out of the office until Monday.

'Fuera' vs. 'Afuera'

In many cases, 'fuera' and 'afuera' mean the same thing ('outside'). 'Afuera' can sometimes suggest movement towards the outside ('vamos afuera' - let's go outside), but don't worry too much, they are often used interchangeably.

exterior

ehks-teh-RYOR/eks.teˈɾjoɾ/

AdjectiveA1General
Use 'exterior' when describing the outside part or surface of something, like a building or an object, functioning as an adjective.
A close-up view of the red wooden exterior wall of a house, emphasizing the surface texture.

Examples

Pintaremos la pared exterior de la casa de azul.

We will paint the exterior wall of the house blue.

Necesitamos revisar el cableado exterior antes de la tormenta.

We need to check the outer wiring before the storm.

Gender Consistency

This adjective describes nouns, but unlike many Spanish adjectives, it looks the same whether the noun is masculine (muro exterior) or feminine (pared exterior).

Adverb vs. Adjective for 'Outside'

The most common mistake is using the adverb 'afuera' or 'fuera' when you need the adjective 'exterior'. Remember, 'exterior' describes a noun (like 'exterior wall'), while 'afuera' and 'fuera' simply state a location (like 'playing outside').

Related Translations

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