tan cerca
/tan θeɾka/from spelling rules
In Spanish, "so close" is translated as tan cerca.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of tan (so/as) and cerca (close/near).
Which one should you use?
While tan cerca emphasizes the degree (so close), muy cerca is a neutral statement of proximity (very close).
How does it change in a sentence?
When so close is followed by a noun or pronoun, you must include the preposition de, resulting in the form tan cerca de. If you need to express the opposite meaning, "so far", use tan lejos.
How do you pronounce it?
/tan θeɾka/
Did you know?
- In Spanish, cerca can also mean 'a fence' or 'enclosure', coming from the verb cercar meaning to fence in.
- The word cerca shares its roots with the English word 'circa', which is used to indicate an approximate time or date. Both words descend from the Latin 'circā', meaning 'around'.
- In some Spanish-speaking regions, people use bien cerca instead of tan cerca to emphasize that something is unexpectedly close.
Examples in context
- No te rindas tan cerca del final.Don't give up so close to the finish line.This sentence shows how to use tan cerca regarding proximity to an end point.Tatoeba #9936748 by Shishir, translation #9937328 by DJ_Saidez
- No te quedes tan cerca del bordillo.Don't stand so close to the curb.This sentence uses tan cerca to describe physical proximity to an object.Tatoeba #5982460 by albrusgher, translation #5788575 by Eccles17
- No tenía idea de que vivías tan cerca de mí.I had no idea you lived so close to me.This sentence demonstrates using tan cerca to describe the distance between people living near one another.Tatoeba #9706292 by arh, translation #9698670 by Nylez
- Estamos tan cerca del objetivoWe are so close to the goal
- Estoy a punto de terminarI am so close to finishing
- El proyecto está casi terminadoThe project is so close to being finished
- ¡Está súper cerca de aquí!It's so close to here!
- Estamos a nada de conseguirloWe are so close to achieving it
- Estamos tan cerca de lograr nuestro objetivo que no podemos rendirnos ahora.We are so close to achieving our goal that we can't give up now.
- ¡El cine está súper cerca! Podemos caminar en menos de cinco minutos.The cinema is so close! We can walk there in less than five minutes.
- 6 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucía and Daniel are looking at a map while hiking.
- Lucía¿Crees que el refugio está tan cerca?Do you think the shelter is so close?
- DanielSí, estamos muy cerca del final del camino.Yes, we are very close to the end of the path.
- Lucía¡Qué bien! Me alegra que esté tan cerca.Great! I'm glad it's so close.
- DanielYa casi llegamos, Lucía.We are almost there, Lucía.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cerca, tan, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
