What are the differences between arriba y encima?

Question

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Answer 1

As the dictionary will tell you, "arriba" generally means "up" and "encima" means "on top of" or "above." Let me give you a couple examples, hopefully that will help make things clearer.

Mira hacia arriba. = Look up.

Hoy estás arriba pero caerás mañana. = You're up high today, but you will fall tomorrow.

El vaso está encima de la mesa. = The glass is on top of the table.

Estamos encima de una montaña. = We're on top of a mountain.

These are all fairly basic examples and neither word is limited only to these uses, but this should help you understand a very common difference between the two words.

Answer 2

Pon la maleta grande debajo, y la pequeña encima.

Put the big case underneath and the small one on top.

Está ahí arriba, en el tejado.

It’s up there, on the roof.

Answer 3

A few more examples.

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