dentro
Lemma Details
Translation: inside; within; indoors
Part of Speech: adverb
Etymology: Derived from Latin 'de intro' meaning 'from within'. The Latin 'intro' comes from 'in' (in) + comparative suffix '-tero', which evolved to '-tro'. This is related to English words like 'interior' and 'internal', all sharing the concept of being on the inside of something.
Commonality: 90%
Guessability: 60%
Register: neutral
Mnemonics
- Think of 'entering' a room to be 'dentro' (inside).
- Associate with English 'interior' - both refer to being inside something.
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Synonyms
Cultural Context
Used frequently in everyday Spanish. 'Dentro de' is particularly common as a preposition indicating both physical location and time frames.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: 'Dentro' generally indicates position (being inside), while 'adentro' emphasizes movement toward the inside or deeper inside. 'Adentro' often suggests more emphasis or movement inward.
Confused word:
Entra más adentro de la cueva.
Go further inside the cave.
Notes: In many contexts, they can be used interchangeably, but 'adentro' often has a more dynamic quality.
Mnemonic: 'Adentro' has the 'a' prefix which can suggest movement (like 'a-way'), while 'dentro' is simply the state of being inside.
Explanation: 'Dentro' means 'inside/within' while 'entre' means 'between/among'. They both relate to position but in different ways.
Notes: 'Dentro de' is used for both location and time, while 'entre' is primarily spatial or for comparing things.
Mnemonic: 'Entre' sounds like 'enter', which you do when going between things; 'dentro' has 'in' sounds, reminding of being inside.