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"Out" is an adverb which is often translated as "afuera", and "on" is a preposition which is often translated as "en". Learn more about the difference between "out" and "on" below.
out(
aut
)An adverb is a word that describes a verb, an adjective, or other adverbs (e.g., to run quickly, very tired).
1. (outside)
a. fuera
She was out for most of the day, but she's here now.Estuvo fuera la mayor parte del día, para ya llegó.
b. afuera
I'll be out all next week. Please route my calls to Dr. García.Voy a estar afuera toda la semana que viene. Favor de pasar mis llamadas al Dr. García.
c. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
Could I see Mr. Richardson? - I'm sorry. He's out.¿Puedo ver al señor Richardson? - Lo siento. No está.
You've just missed him. He's just stepped out.Lo perdiste por poco. Acaba de salir.
3. (distance)
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
He lived out in Arizona for a couple of years.Estuvo viviendo en Arizona por un par de años.
The ship spotted a whale with her calf when it was two miles out.El barco vio una ballena con su cría cuando estaba a dos millas de distancia.
4. (on strike)
a. en huelga
The steel workers are out due to a dispute over working conditions.Los trabajadores acereros están en huelga debido a una disputa sobre las condiciones de trabajo.
5. (revealed)
a. descubierto
The secret's out about who your boyfriend is.Se ha descubierto el secreto de quién es tu novio.
b. desvelado
The lies have ended and the truth is out.Las mentiras se han acabado y la verdad se ha desvelado.
6. (available)
7. (blossomed)
a. en flor
The agapanthus have been out for a couple of months.Los agapanthus están en flor desde hace unos meses.
b. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
Skinny jeans are out this season.Los vaqueros ajustados ya no están de moda esta temporada.
Wearing overalls to school is totally out, unless it’s an agricultural school.Ya no se llevan los overoles a la escuela, al menos que sea una escuela de agronomía.
9. (inaccurate)
a. equivocado
There’s no way that number is correct. You’re out.No hay forma de que ese número sea correcto. Estás equivocado.
10. (loudly)
a. en voz alta
You need to speak out so everyone can hear you.Debes hablar en voz alta para que todos te escuchen.
b. en alto
The teacher read out the list of names to the class.La maestra leyó en alto la lista de nombres a la clase.
12. (unconscious)
a. inconsciente
He’s been out ever since the branch fell on his head.Ha estado inconsciente desde que se le cayó la rama en la cabeza.
b. sin conocimiento
With just a couple of beers, she’s out.Con tan solo un par de cervezas, ella queda sin conocimiento.
13. (without)
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
Can I have some sugar in my coffee? - Sorry, we're out.¿Me pones un poco de azúcar en el café? - Lo siento, no queda.
I think I'll have eggs for breakfast. Oh no, we're out!Creo que voy a desayunar huevos. ¡Ay, no! No nos quedan.
14. (at an end)
a. terminado
School’s out in ten minutes, so the kids should be home soon.Las clases habrán terminado dentro de diez minutos, así que los niños pronto deben estar en casa.
An adjective is a word that describes a noun (e.g., the big dog).
16. (extinguished)
a. apagado
The lights are out. Do you have a flashlight?Las luces están apagadas. ¿Tienes una linterna?
17. (sports)
18. (legal)
a. libre
Charles had been in prison for five years before he was out last year.Charles había estado en prisión durante cinco años antes de quedar libre el año pasado.
A preposition is a word that indicates the relationship between a noun and another word (e.g., He ran through the door.).
a. de cada
That is the result in two cases out of ten.Ese es el resultado en dos de cada diez casos.
a. no direct translation (colloquial)
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
He ran out the door.Salió corriendo por la puerta.
She looked out the window.Miró por la ventana.
a. por
She started a fire when she threw her cigarette out the window.Empezó un incendio cuando echó su cigarro por la ventana.
A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling, or idea (e.g., man, dog, house).
24. (escape)
a. la escapatoria (F)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
She’s worried because the contract didn’t leave her an out.Está preocupada porque el contrato no la dejó una escapatoria.
25. (sports)
A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
a. revelar
After an argument, Ryan's sister outed him as gay at school.Después de un pleito, la hermana de Ryan lo reveló como homosexual en la escuela.
27. (to reveal)
a. descubrir
He publicly outed the illegal activity going on at work.Públicamente descubrió la actividad ilegal que había en su trabajo.
on(
an
)A preposition is a word that indicates the relationship between a noun and another word (e.g., He ran through the door.).
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
Our anniversary is on Saturday.Nuestro aniversario es el sábado.
Where were you on the morning of September 30th?¿Dónde estabas la mañana del 30 de septiembre?
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
Are you on any medication?¿Toma algún medicamento?
The driver was a young kid on drugs.El conductor era un chico que iba drogado.
a. de (trip, tour or vacation)
The band will be on tour until December.El grupo estará de gira hasta diciembre.
a. en (the Internet)
I spent hours on the Internet looking for information for my paper.Pasé horas en Internet buscando de información para mi trabajo.
b. a (the phone)
I have to talk with my boss, but he's on the phone at the moment.Tengo que hablar con mi jefe pero está al teléfono ahora mismo.
11. (radio or TV)
12. (transport)
b. a (into a bus, train or airplane)
We got on the plane at six, but we only took off half an hour later.Subimos al avión a las seis pero tardamos media hora en despegar.
13. (music)
a. a
Playing on keyboards, Dave! A big round of applause for him!¡Al teclado, Dave! ¡Un fuerte aplauso para él!
14. (according to)
a. según
The order will be delivered based on your instructions.Se entregará el pedido según sus instrucciones.
a. por cuenta de
The dinner is on my father, and I will buy the cinema tickets.La cena va por cuenta de mi padre y yo pago las entradas para el cine.
An adverb is a word that describes a verb, an adjective, or other adverbs (e.g., to run quickly, very tired).
17. (in place)
18. (with clothing)
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
From next year on, I will be pursuing my real dream.A partir del año que viene, perseguiré mi verdadero sueño.
There's a gas station a couple of miles further on.Hay una gasolinera un par de millas más adelante.
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
Dream on; nothing is impossible!¡Sigue soñando, que nada es imposible!
She went on and on about how smart her kids were.No paraba de hablar de lo inteligentes que eran sus hijos.
An adjective is a word that describes a noun (e.g., the big dog).
21. (in operation)
a. encendido
If the lights are on, the store's open.Si las luces están encendidas, la tienda está abierta.
b. prendido (Latin America)
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
While the oven is on, I'll bake this cake.Como está prendido el horno, hornearé esta torta.
22. (occurring)
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
The race is on to find the missing ship.Ya empezó la carrera para encontrar el barco desaparecido.
This event is still on, despite the rain!¡El evento sigue en pie a pesar de la lluvia!
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
Is there anything good on at the movies?¿Están dando algo bueno en el cine?
Your favorite song is on right now.Está sonando tu canción favorita ahora mismo.
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
I bet you $20 she doesn’t turn up. - You’re on!Te apuesto $10 a que no viene. - ¡Trato hecho!
I'll buy you dinner if you ask her out. - OK, you're on.Te invito a cenar si le pides que salga contigo - Vale.