suficientemente cerca
/sufiθjentemente θeɾka/from spelling rules
In Spanish, "close enough" is translated as suficientemente cerca.
This phrase is used to indicate that a distance is small enough for a particular purpose.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the adverb suficientemente (sufficiently) and the adverb cerca (close/near).
Which one should you use?
While suficientemente cerca is grammatically correct, adding lo makes the phrase sound more idiomatic and natural when describing a state or degree.
How does it change in a sentence?
In natural Spanish speech, the neuter article lo is often added before suficientemente to mean "close enough", such as in the phrase Está lo suficientemente cerca.
How do you pronounce it?
/sufiθjentemente θeɾka/
Did you know?
- While cerca means 'near' or 'close', it is also the noun for a 'fence' or 'enclosure'. This is because the word's history is rooted in the concept of being 'around' something to surround it.
- The word cerca shares an ancient ancestor with the English word 'circa', which we use to denote approximate dates or quantities. Both words originally stem from a Latin root meaning 'around'.
- While suficientemente cerca describes distance, Spanish speakers often use the phrase está cerca to mean both 'it is nearby' and 'it is almost finished'.
Examples in context
- ¿Está lo suficientemente cerca para ir andando?Is it close enough to walk there?This sentence is useful for asking if a distance is suficientemente cerca to reach a destination on foot.Tatoeba #1120206 by Shishir, translation #320492 by CK
- El hotel está suficientemente cerca del centro.The hotel is close enough to the center.
- No hace falta el coche, estamos suficientemente cerca.We don't need the car, we are close enough.
Example conversation
Daniel and Lucía are deciding whether to take a taxi to a restaurant.
- Daniel¿Crees que el restaurante está muy lejos?Do you think the restaurant is very far?
- LucíaNo, creo que está suficientemente cerca para caminar.No, I think it is close enough to walk.
- DanielTienes razón, no tardaremos nada.You're right, it won't take long.
- Lucía¡Perfecto, vamos entonces!Perfect, let's go then!
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cerca, suficientemente, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
