proxima y siguiente

Question

When I looked up the translation of "next" in the dictionary, I got "siguiente". However, when I have "next week" translated, I got "la semana próxima". Can "next week" also be "la semana siguiente"? If not, what is the rule on the use of siguiente and próxima?

Not seguiente, but "siguiente" - Benz, Mar 24, 2010

Sorry, my mind associated it with "sequence". Thanks! - Rikko, Mar 24, 2010

Answer 1

En la Argentina decimos "la semana próxima" a la semana que sigue a la que estamos viviendo. (next week - the week that follows)

Diríamos "siguiente" en casos como estos: "La semana siguiente a la de año nuevo" (The week that follows New year) "La semana siguiente a la de tu cumpleaños." (The week after your birthday)

siguiente - following (en una lista)

próximo - next (en tiempo)

próximo día (next day)

siguiente tema (following thread)

Thank you for trusting that I can already understand Spanish that well. Surprisingly, I think I can now. Muchas gracias! - Rikko, Mar 24, 2010

Very good rikko!!! - Benz, Mar 24, 2010

This seems to me to answer the London and Birmingham question - for **siguente** there must be something specified to follow or 'be next' after, or the context needs to mak it obvious somehow? It's a trikcy one isn't it! - galsally, Mar 25, 2010

muchas gracias Benz and good question Rikko! - galsally, Mar 25, 2010

Answer 2

I have heard the two used this way:

"No la semana próxima, pero la semana seguiente."

Not next week, but the following week.

On this one, I cannot give you rules, but I can share what I have heard natives say!

Hope it helps.

OK, but seguiente in this case still means next, but just took the meaning of "next, next" because proxima came ahead. Did you mean that "la semana sequiente" cannot stand alone? - Rikko, Mar 24, 2010

No I believe that it can stand alone. I am guessing because of hearing the way it is used that "siguiente" may be a little more formal and used to indicate time further down the road because próximo indicates a time that is nearer.it is - renaerules, Mar 24, 2010

Answer 3

So, is it like english?

We wouldn't say 'I'm going to London the following week', we'd say 'next week'. (próxima?)

But we would say 'This week I'm going to London, the following week (or 'the week after') I'm going to Birmingham. (siguiente?)

I think I'm asking what Rikko just commented on renae's post really!

But, galsally, doesn't "the following week" by itself in your 1st example still mean next week even if it is not customary to say it that way? In your 2nd example, it still does mean "next week", right? - Rikko, Mar 24, 2010

You may want to bring up the London-Birmingham use of siguiente. They way I understood it, it should be proxima. Thanks! - Rikko, Mar 24, 2010

I don't think it would still mean 'next week' unless the sentence or the immediately previous sentence specified something to follow. I think...wouldn't put money on it, but I'm not a betting gal :P - galsally, Mar 25, 2010

:-) - Rikko, Mar 25, 2010

Answer 4

So to sum it up:

"Próximo" is used for things close at hand, while "siguiente" is used for anything that follows no matter how far down the road.

If I have this wrong, some kind spanish-speaking native come to my rescue!

But the translation of next is seguiente. So proximo is for something closer than what next means? Then next week should be semana seguiente then. Am I confusing everyone now? Sorry. - Rikko, Mar 24, 2010

Thanks, Renae! With Benz explanation (practically in Spanish, would you believe?) and yours, I think I got it now. - Rikko, Mar 24, 2010

Answer 5

Seguiente means the following week (seguir - to follow). These words are similar, but when speaking about time I think it is more common to use "próxima".

OK, but in the comment of Renaerules, both of them are used for time. - Rikko, Mar 24, 2010

Answer 6

Rikko:

The two terms (both adjectives) do have slightly different meanings.

próximo = near, close, next

siguiente = next, following

When you want to convey the verb form you can use the verb "seguir" (to follow).