When to use "proxima" and "entrante" as translation for "next"

Question

Is there a rule for the use of 'proxima: vs 'entrante' to mean 'next'? E.g my Spanish lessons use 'la semana entrante' for next week, and 'la proxima vez'. for next time. Also, why is 'entrante' after the noun and 'proxima' before?

Hi runee, welcome to the Q&A. - rac1, Jul 24, 2016

Answer 1

"Próxima" is one of those adjectives that precede the noun but it's not incorrect for it to follow the noun.

You can say either "la próxima semana" or la " semana próxima." However I have RARELY, maybe NEVER, heard or seen "la entrante semana" Entrante usually follows the noun,

As far as "vez" is concerned, it's ALWAYS "la próxima vez."

In the case of "semana" you can even use "la semana que viene."

All human languages are inconsistent at some point, and Spanish is no exception.

Also "la semana que entra" - 005faa61, Jul 23, 2016

Thank you Daniela - that answered part of my question. When do I use proxima and when entrante - runee, Jul 24, 2016

What you were told now are idiomatic expressions. We don't simply say *la entrante semana*, but we can say *la próxima semana / la semana próxima*. It's just a matter of idiomatic expressions. Sometimes we can move the words but the meaning is the same. - Oshnaj, Jul 25, 2016