Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
Near in Spanish: Cerca
Cerca · adverb · SEHR-kah
The English word 'near' translates to 'cerca' (adverb meaning 'close by') or 'cercano/cercana' (adjective meaning 'nearby'). When indicating proximity to something specific, Spanish uses the construction 'cerca de' (near to).
SEHR-kah
La farmacia está cerca del hospital, a solo dos cuadras.
The pharmacy is near the hospital, just two blocks away.
Near in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for near, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| cerca | near | SEHR-kah | Default, widely understood |
| cercano | near | adjective form | |
| próximo | near | upcoming/next in time |
How Native Speakers Use Cerca
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Asking for directions
¿Hay algún restaurante cerca de aquí?
Is there a restaurant near here?
'Cerca de aquí' is the go-to phrase when asking about nearby locations.
Describing proximity
Vivimos en un pueblo cercano a la montaña.
We live in a town near the mountain.
'Cercano/a' functions as an adjective modifying a noun directly.
Temporal nearness
La fecha de entrega está muy cerca, debemos apurarnos.
The deadline is very near, we need to hurry.
'Cerca' also expresses closeness in time, not just physical space.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Cerca
Forgetting 'de' preposition
Incorrect: Vivo cerca la escuela.
Correct: Vivo cerca de la escuela.
Spanish requires the preposition 'de' between 'cerca' and the reference point — omitting it produces a grammatically incomplete phrase.
Using 'cercano' as adverb
Incorrect: El banco está cercano.
Correct: El banco está cerca.
'Cercano' is an adjective that must modify a noun (e.g., 'un lugar cercano'), while 'cerca' is the adverb used with 'estar' to indicate location.
Lock in Near Vocabulary with the Parrot Method
Why word lists alone don't stick
Memorizing a translation feels productive, but most learners forget 70% of what they studied within 48 hours. Vocabulary needs spaced repetition AND real-world exposure to transfer to long-term memory.
See Cerca used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using cerca in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear La farmacia está cerca del hospital, a solo dos cuadras. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.
Save, review, repeat, stay consistent
Tap any word to save it. Parrot's spaced-repetition system surfaces it right before you'd forget, no manual flashcard creation. The watch, parrot back, save, review cycle turns recognition into fluency at 2.7x the speed of traditional study.
Common Questions About Near in Spanish
- What's the difference between 'cerca' and 'cercano'?
- The distinction is grammatical: 'cerca' is an adverb (used with 'estar' or on its own to mean 'nearby'), while 'cercano/cercana' is an adjective that directly modifies a noun, as in 'un futuro cercano' (a near future). Mixing them up is one of the most common errors for intermediate learners.
- How do I say 'near me' in Spanish?
- Say 'cerca de mí' for physical proximity to yourself. In digital contexts like map searches, Spanish speakers often use 'cerca de mí' or 'a mi alrededor' to find nearby businesses, mirroring how English speakers type 'near me' into search engines.
- Can 'cerca' refer to time as well as space?
- Spanish 'cerca' works for both temporal and spatial proximity, just like English 'near.' You can say 'la Navidad está cerca' (Christmas is near) with the same naturalness as 'la tienda está cerca' (the store is near), making this a versatile word for beginners.