A bit of confusion about where something is.

Question

In the way I've been learning Spanish, I've used the 'direction' words quite a bit, words like el lado derecho o izquierda, debajo, sobre, delante y detrás I'm a bit confused with the 'why are they different'. For example, if I were to tell you that something is behind you, I would say something like algo está detrás de ti or in front of you I might say algo está delante de ti.

In the examples given below, could someone help me with the differences in the 'location' words? The words in question are:

• atrás
• detrás
• adelante
• delante

Thank you!!

Example sentences...

El baño está en la parte de atrás del restaurante

(The bathroom is in the back of the restaurant)

o

El baño está en la parte detrás del restaurante

(the bathroom is on the backside of the restaurant?)

Atención al Cliente está en la parte de adelante de la tienda

(Customer Service is in the front of the store)

o

Atención al Cliente está en la parte delante de la tienda

(Customer Service is in front of you in the store?)

Answer 1

I did a flashcard set on the differences, but basically one set of words means direction, the other location:

atrás - back(ward)

detrás de - behind

adelante - front/forward

delante de - in front of

abajo - down

debajo de - below

arriba - up

encima de - on top of (go figure)

Thank you Kevin. I know the literal meanings of each word, it's the usage that doesn't make sense to me. Atrás de and detrás de both refer to some 'in the back'? - Jack-OBrien, May 11, 2010

I meant to say 'something' in the back (back of the restaurant) - Jack-OBrien, May 11, 2010

Well, it's like English. We can say, "behind" and we can say "in back of". In Spanish we can say "detrás de" and we can say "atrás de". Bajo is another word with many implied meanings: down, low, lower, under, etc. Depends on the context. - KevinB, May 11, 2010

Thanks, I do understand a bit better, I guess I didn't quite relate it to "behind" or "in back of", which makes complete sense now :~) - Jack-OBrien, May 11, 2010

Answer 2

One more distinction needs to be made. You quote:

El baño está en la parte de atrás del restaurante

(The bathroom is in the back of the restaurant)

o

El baño está en la parte detrás del restaurante

(the bathroom is on the backside of the restaurant?)

Sorry wrong - if the bathroom is "en la parte de atras" then it's inside the building down at the back. If it's "detras del restaurante" then it's outside the building and not part of it although this definition can get a bit stretched if it's actually in a bolt on extra room.

Thank you geofc. - Jack-OBrien, May 11, 2010

Answer 3

Let me add some clarification to atrás: According to the Salamanca Dictionary, in a building atrás is equivalent to "en la parte trasera" or "en la parte más cercana al fondo". Ex. El ladrón salió por la puerta de atrás.

It is also commonly used as a time adverb where it can be used in place of antes: Los problemas con su madre vienen de atrás.

That is one of the difficulties of learning adverbs (and most words); understanding that they can sometimes be used in more than one way. It's always good to look at a dictionary that has clear examples to make sure of the use of any word, though.

Answer 4

In Spain, in a restaurant I might walk up to the bar and say, ¿Los servicios? Often the barman will indicate with his thumb and al fondo

"(where are) the toilets?" "Out/at the back"

Answer 5

It is probably most helpful to think of the general uses of the words. In general, you use the words delante and detrás when they are followed by "de" and another item:

El hombre está delante de mí. The man is in front of me. El hombre está detrás de mi. The man is behind me.

You use atrás when you include the meaning (to the), and it will not be followed by something else:

El baño está atrás. The bathroom is to the back.

Adelante normally denotes motion or time, and is not used to describe location per se,

El batallión siguió adelante. The battalion continued forward. Hoy en adelante. From today on.

Another preposition in front of the term with adelante and atrás can add other layers of meaning: para adelante to the front de adelante from the front para atrás to the back de atrás from the back

However, as is noted in the dictionary in this website, there are also exceptions to this, when adelante and atrás are used followed by "de" and another item. I would say you are safest using the above guides, though.