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How to Say "previously" in Spanish

English → Spanish

antes

/ahn-tess//ˈantes/

adverbA1general
Use 'antes' when referring to a past state or a point in time that came before the present, often in a general or informal context.
A timeline showing one event happening before another, indicating the past.

Examples

Yo vivía en Madrid antes.

I lived in Madrid before.

Antes, los teléfonos no tenían internet.

Previously, phones didn't have internet.

Piénsalo bien antes.

Think about it well first.

Stands on its Own

You can use 'antes' all by itself at the end of a sentence to mean 'before now' or 'in the past.' For example, 'No lo había visto antes' (I hadn't seen it before).

anteriormente

an-te-riohr-MEN-teh/an.te.ɾjoɾˈmen.te/

adverbB1formal/neutral
Use 'anteriormente' to specifically refer to a past time or event that occurred before another past event or the current moment, often in a more formal or narrative context.
A vibrant green caterpillar sits on a large green leaf. Nearby, a colorful monarch butterfly is flying away, symbolizing the transformation that occurred previously.

Examples

Anteriormente, trabajaba como profesora de historia.

Previously, I worked as a history teacher.

El edificio, anteriormente una biblioteca, es ahora un restaurante.

The building, formerly a library, is now a restaurant.

Aunque anteriormente se había negado, la junta directiva aprobó el plan de expansión.

Although it had previously been denied, the board of directors approved the expansion plan.

Adverb Placement

Like many adverbs ending in -mente, 'anteriormente' usually sits near the verb it describes, or at the beginning of the sentence to set the scene.

Using 'anterior' instead

Mistake: “Usé el libro anterior.”

Correction: The word 'anterior' is an adjective (previous/former), so you must add the -mente ending to turn it into an adverb meaning 'previously' or 'formerly' (Usé el libro anteriormente).

previamente

/pre-byah-MEN-teh//pɾeˈβjaˈmente/

adverbB1formal/instructional
Use 'previamente' to emphasize that something must be done or has happened before another specific action or event, often in instructions or procedures.
A row of three flower pots: the first shows a small seed in soil, the second a sprout, and the third a blooming flower.

Examples

Debes leer las instrucciones previamente.

You must read the instructions beforehand.

Como se mencionó previamente, la reunión fue cancelada.

As previously mentioned, the meeting was canceled.

El sospechoso había sido arrestado previamente.

The suspect had been previously arrested.

The '-mente' Ending

Just like '-ly' in English, the ending '-mente' turns a description word into an action-description word (an adverb). Here, 'previo' (previous) becomes 'previamente' (previously).

Using 'previamente' vs 'antes'

Mistake: “Using 'previamente de' to say 'before something'.”

Correction: Use 'antes de' for specific things (antes de la cena) and 'previamente' as a standalone word (hazlo previamente).

Choosing between 'antes' and 'anteriormente'

Learners often confuse 'antes' and 'anteriormente'. While both refer to the past, 'antes' is more general and can simply mean 'before now', whereas 'anteriormente' often implies a sequence of past events or a more formal statement about a prior state.

Related Translations

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