cerca de
prepositionBeginnerHigh frequency
What does “cerca de” mean in English?
near
Example sentences
La parada está cerca de aquí.
The bus stop is near here.
Vivo cerca de la escuela.
I live near the school.
El banco está muy cerca.
The bank is very close.
How to use it
Cerca de means 'near' or 'close to'. Adverbial phrase — invariable. Usually paired with estar for static location.
Common mistake
Use cerca de + noun for 'near X', or cerca alone (without de) for 'close' as a free-standing adverb.
Topics
Related Beginner words
Reference
This entry’s teaching guidance follows A New Reference Grammar of Modern Spanish (Butt, Benjamin & Moreira Rodríguez, Routledge), 34.