Spanish usually translates “before” as antes or antes de. For physical position in front of something, the more precise phrase is often delante de.
before in Spanish = antes de / antes, pronounced approximately AHN-tes deh.
How Do You Say before in Spanish?
Use antes for “before” in time, and antes de before a noun or infinitive. Delante de means “in front of” in space.
Meaning: before; before (something)
Use antes de + noun or antes de + infinitive, as in antes de la cena and antes de salir. Before a conjugated clause, Spanish uses antes de que plus the subjunctive.
Different Ways to Express before
Pay attention to whether “before” refers to time, a following action, or a physical location.
1. Antes — before / earlier
Llegué antes. — I arrived earlier.. By itself, antes refers to an earlier time or something happening previously.
2. Antes de + noun
antes de la clase — before class. Use de between antes and a noun or noun phrase. For comparison with another time preposition, see at in Spanish.
3. Antes de + infinitive
antes de salir — before leaving. When the same subject performs both actions, follow antes de with the infinitive.
4. Delante de — in front of
delante de la puerta — in front of the door. This describes a physical position. It is not the usual translation for temporal “before.”
before in Spanish: Quick Comparison
Use this comparison to choose the form that best fits your sentence. Pay attention to whether you are counting, describing a quality, or referring to a particular situation.
| Spanish | Meaning | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| Llegué antes. | I arrived earlier. | Time without a following noun |
| antes de la clase | before class | Time before an event |
| antes de salir | before leaving | Sequencing actions |
| delante de la puerta | in front of the door | Spatial position |
How to Pronounce antes de / antes
Antes has two syllables, with stress on the first: AN-tes. In antes de, connect the words smoothly. Delante has three syllables and stress on the middle one: de-LAN-te.
Example Sentences Using before
Read each example aloud and notice how the surrounding words give the phrase its exact meaning. The English translation is natural rather than a strict word-for-word rendering.
Meaning: Wash your hands before eating.
Use: Use antes de plus the infinitive comer.
Meaning: We arrived before the movie.
Use: Antes de is followed by a noun phrase.
Meaning: The car is in front of the house.
Use: Delante de describes physical location.
Frequently Asked Questions About before in Spanish
Tap a question below to see the answer.
What is the basic Spanish word for before?
The basic temporal word is antes.
When should I say antes de?
Use antes de before a noun or infinitive, as in antes de la cena or antes de salir.
How do I say “before I leave”?
Use antes de que me vaya (“before I leave”), with the subjunctive after antes de que.
Does delante de mean before?
It means “in front of” spatially. For an earlier time, use antes de.
Is previo a another translation?
Yes. Previo a is a more formal option meaning “prior to,” often before a noun.
Summary: before in Spanish
Use antes or antes de for temporal “before,” including antes de + noun/infinitive. Use antes de que before a conjugated clause and delante de for “in front of.”
