adentro
everyday, Mexico
In Mexico "inside" is adentro when you mean being in a place, as in Está adentro. With a noun use dentro de, such as dentro de la casa, and for the interior side say por dentro.
Meaning: in the interior (adverb)
Ways to say it
| Mexican | Note |
|---|---|
| adentro | everyday, Mexico |
| Dentro de | preposition |
| Por dentro | on the inside |
Say Pasa, está adentro for "come in, it is inside". Mexicans also use Pásale or Ándale, adelante to invite you in.
Which one should you use?
Adentro stands alone as an adverb. Dentro de needs an object. Por dentro describes the inside surface or a person's feelings.
How does it change in a sentence?
In Mexico people say para adentro for "toward the inside", but never a dentro.
Did you know?
- Pásale is a very Mexican invitation to come in, and it also appears when someone invites you to take a seat or to the table.
Examples in context
- El gato está adentro.The cat is inside.
- Guarda todo dentro de la caja.Put everything inside the box.
- Por fuera está bien, pero por dentro está roto.It looks fine outside, but it is broken inside.
Example conversation
Oscar arrives at his friend Mina's home in Mexico City and asks where she is.
- OscarMina, ¿estás en casa?Mina, are you at home?
- MinaSí, estoy adentro. Pásale.Yes, I am inside. Come in.
- OscarCon permiso.Excuse me, may I?
