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"Arriba" is a form of "arriba", an adverb which is often translated as "up". "Encima" is a form of "encima", an adverb which is often translated as "above". Learn more about the difference between "arriba" and "encima" below.
arriba()
An adverb is a word that describes a verb, an adjective, or other adverbs (e.g., to run quickly, very tired).
1. (higher)
a. upstairs
Los vecinos que viven arriba siempre hacen mucho escándalo.The neighbors who live upstairs always make a lot of noise.
3. (on a scale)
4. (earlier)
a. above (in a text)
Lo escrito arriba es tomado de la leyenda de Escila y Caribdis.That which is written above was taken from the legend of Scylla and Charybdis.
An interjection is a short utterance that expresses emotion, hesitation, or protest (e.g., Wow!).
b. up with (United Kingdom)
Regionalism used in the United Kingdom
¡Arriba los Cisnes!Up with the Swans!
encima()
An adverb is a word that describes a verb, an adjective, or other adverbs (e.g., to run quickly, very tired).
3. (in time)
a. right around the corner (idiom)
An idiom is a phrase with a meaning different from the literal meaning of the separate words that make it up (e.g., break a leg).
Las elecciones están encima.The elections are right around the corner.
4. (figurative)
a. on top of that
Elizabeth llegó tarde y encima no había hecho la tarea.Elizabeth arrived late and on top of that hadn't done her homework.
b. besides that
Me dio diez dólares de pago y cinco más encima.He gave me ten dollars as payment and another five besides that.
