vs
QUICK ANSWER
"Cerca de" is a phrase which is often translated as "close to", and "al lado de" is a phrase which is often translated as "next to". Learn more about the difference between "cerca de" and "al lado de" below.
cerca de(
sehr
-
kah
deh
)A phrase is a group of words commonly used together (e.g., once upon a time).
al lado de(
ahl
lah
-
doh
deh
)A phrase is a group of words commonly used together (e.g., once upon a time).
a. with
Su esposo siempre estuvo al lado de ella cuando lo necesitó.Her husband was always with her when she needed him.
a. compared to
Nuestra casa es muy pequeña al lado de la suya.Our house is very small compared to yours.
