What does it mean word for word?
The phrase todas las anteriores literally translates to "all the previous ones".
Which one should you use?
While todas las anteriores is the standard, other variations exist depending on context. You can use todo lo anterior to refer to a collective body of information or a general concept rather than a list of specific items. To refer specifically to options mentioned prior in surveys or exams, you might use todos los mencionados.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some Latin American countries, such as Mexico, todas las anteriores is used. In Spain, a formal variation used is todo lo mencionado previamente.
How does it change in a sentence?
If the options being referred to are masculine nouns, you must use the masculine form todos los anteriores instead of the feminine todas las anteriores. Additionally, the neuter form todo lo anterior can be used to refer to a collective body of information or a general concept rather than a list of specific items.
How do you pronounce it?
/todas las anteɾjoɾes/
Did you know?
- Because todas las anteriores is feminine, it is often used in exams even if the list contains masculine items, because it refers to the implicit feminine word opciones meaning 'options'.
- While English uses 'above' to describe the position on a page, Spanish uses anteriores, which means 'previous' and describes the order of time or sequence.
- The word las in the phrase comes from the Latin 'illās', which was the accusative feminine plural form of 'ille'.
Examples in context
- La respuesta es todo lo mencionado anteriormente.The answer is all of the above.
- Las opciones correctas son todas las anteriores.The correct options are all of the above.
- En el examen, marcar todas las anteriores es difícil.In the exam, marking all of the above is difficult.
Example conversation
Lucía and Daniel are reviewing a multiple-choice practice test.
- Lucía¿Cuál es la respuesta para esta pregunta?What is the answer to this question?
- DanielCreo que la respuesta es todas las anteriores.I think the answer is all of the above.
- LucíaTienes razón, Daniel, es la opción correcta.You are right, Daniel, it is the correct option.
- DanielQué bueno que lo comprobamos.I'm glad we checked it.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries las, CC BY-SA 4.0.
