no muy lejos
/no mui lexos/from spelling rules
The English phrase 'not far' is translated into Spanish as no muy lejos.
The phrase no muy lejos is used to describe a person or a place that is a short distance away. While this is a common way to express the idea, you can also use the single word cerca to mean 'near', which is a more direct way to express the concept.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase no muy lejos literally translates to 'not very far', where no means 'not', muy means 'very' and lejos means 'far'.
How does it change in a sentence?
When you want to specify a reference point, such as a location, you must add the preposition de after the phrase. For example, you would say no muy lejos de la estación to mean 'not far from the station'.
Did you know?
- In some Spanish-speaking cultures, giving a distance like no muy lejos is often a polite social vagueness rather than a precise measurement.
- The word lejos actually shares an ancestral root with the English word 'languid'. While it seems to relate to distance, its linguistic history is tied to the idea of being 'wide' or 'loose'.
- While no muy lejos describes distance, the Spanish word lejos is used in expressions to describe something being far off in time or mentally distant.
Examples in context
- Varios inmigrantes ilegales aparecieron muertos no muy lejos del cruce de la frontera.Several illegal immigrants were found dead not far from the border crossing.This sentence shows how to use no muy lejos to describe a location relative to a border crossing.Tatoeba #7921577 by Seael, translation #7787734 by karloelkebekio
- El restaurante que buscas no está muy lejos de aquí.The restaurant you are looking for is not far from here.
- La tienda de comestibles está a poca distancia del hotel.The grocery store is not far from the hotel.
- El cine está cerca de aquí, podemos ir caminando.The cinema is not far from here, we can go on foot.
- El parque no está lejos, podemos ir en bicicleta.The park is not far, we can go by bike.
- La plaza principal no está tan lejos de aquí.The main square is not far from here.
- El museo no queda lejos, podemos ir caminando.The museum is not far, we can go on foot.
Example conversation
Daniel and María are looking for a pharmacy.
- Daniel¿Hay una farmacia por aquí?Is there a pharmacy around here?
- MaríaSí, hay una no muy lejos.Yes, there is one not very far away.
- DanielGracias, María. ¿Podemos ir caminando?Thanks, María. Can we walk there?
- MaríaSí, Daniel, está a solo cinco minutos.Yes, Daniel, it is only five minutes away.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries lejos, muy, no, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
