Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| entonces | /enˈtonθes/ /enˈtonses/ |
| en eso | /en eso/ (from spelling rules) |
entonces is used as an adverb to mean "at that time". It can also function as a conjunction meaning "therefore" or "so". To indicate "then" in specific situations or instances, you can use the phrases En ese caso or en ese momento. If you want to emphasize a sequential order, seguidamente is a suitable alternative.
Which one should you use?
While entonces refers to a specific point in time, the phrase en eso is often used colloquially to mean "in that moment" or "during that event" when telling a story.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, it is common to replace entonces with pues in informal conversations. In Argentina, the word entonces can be replaced with bueno in informal contexts, especially when it is used at the beginning of a sentence.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
/enˈtonθes/
Did you know?
- The word entonces shares a common ancestor with the Romanian word atunci, both descending from the Latin root for 'then'.
- In some dialects, repeating the word entonces multiple times in a row is used to express impatience or to prompt the other person to get to the point.
- When telling a dramatic story, Spanish speakers use en eso to signal a sudden, unexpected interruption, rather than just a chronological sequence.
Examples in context
- Entonces le diré eso.I'll tell him so then.This sentence shows how to use entonces.Tatoeba #1296576 by marcelostockle, translation #254434 by CK
- ¿Y entonces que pasó?And then what happened?This sentence uses entonces.Tatoeba #2264650 by cueyayotl, translation #2264649 by _undertoad
- Yo era feliz entonces.I was happy then.Tatoeba #1289519 by marcelostockle, translation #50196 by CK
- Necesito terminar este informe y entonces podré irme a casa.I need to finish this report and then I can go home.
- Primero estudia, entonces podrás relajarte.First, study, and then you can relax.
- Primero debes aprender a caminar, luego podrás correr.First, you must learn to walk, and then you can run.
- Vamos a la fiesta y después salimos a cenar.Let's go to the party and then we'll go out to eat.
- Estudia bien para el examen, después descansa todo el fin de semana.Study well for the exam, and then rest all weekend.
- ¿No quieres ir a la playa? Vale, en ese caso vayamos al cine.You don't want to go to the beach? Okay, then let's go to the movies.
- 340 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Mateo and Sofía are talking about their childhood homes.
- MateoVivíamos en una casa pequeña entonces.We lived in a small house then.
- SofíaSí, pero tenía un jardín muy grande.Yes, but it had a very large garden.
- MateoTeníamos mucho espacio para jugar entonces.We had plenty of space to play then.
- SofíaEsos eran los mejores días.Those were the best days.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “then” translations and entries entonces, en eso, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries en, entonces, eso, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
