muy cerca
/mui θeɾka/from spelling rules
In Spanish, "very close" is translated as muy cerca.
This phrase is used to describe a short distance between two people or things.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of muy (very) and cerca (close/near).
How does it change in a sentence?
When you are expressing that something is very close to a specific person or object, you must use the preposition de after muy cerca (e.g., muy cerca de…). When you are describing a relationship of emotional closeness for a group of people, the adjective form cercano must be used and it must agree in gender and number with the subject, such as in muy cercanos.
Did you know?
- The word cerca comes from the Latin circā, which means 'around' and is the same ancestor for the English term 'circa' used in dates.
- The word cerca can function as a noun meaning 'fence' or 'enclosure', stemming from the idea of something being 'around' an area.
- If a Spanish speaker is 'close' to finishing a task, they will typically use the word casi (almost) rather than cerca.
Examples in context
- Estoy muy cerca de Tom.I'm very close to Tom.This sentence shows how to use muy cerca with the preposition de to indicate closeness to a person.Tatoeba #6630294 by Schuager, translation #5853057 by CK
- No éramos muy cercanos.We weren't very close.This sentence demonstrates using the plural adjective form to describe a relationship.Tatoeba #10273424 by manufrutos, translation #10264941 by ddnktr
- Ella se quedó muy cerca de él.She stood very close to him.This sentence illustrates physical proximity to a person.Tatoeba #4550015 by DarkHollow, translation #4010340 by Hybrid
- Mi casa está muy cerca del aeropuerto.My house is very close to the airport.
- La tienda está a escasos pasos del hotel.The store is a few steps away from the hotel.
- La playa está super cerca de aquí.The beach is really close to here.
- Vivo pegado al parque, es genial.I live next to the park, it's awesome.
- 15 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Alejandro and María are looking for a pharmacy.
- AlejandroMaría, ¿sabes dónde hay una farmacia?María, do you know where there is a pharmacy?
- MaríaSí, hay una muy cerca de aquí.Yes, there is one very close to here.
- Alejandro¡Qué bien! ¿Podemos ir caminando?That's great! Can we walk there?
- MaríaSí, porque está muy cerca.Yes, because it is very close.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cerca, muy, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
