antes

before

adverb AHN-tehs Common

Origin: From Latin ante (before) + adverbial -s.

Also means

previously

Usage Note

Antes is a temporal adverb meaning 'before' or 'previously' (antes de comer — before eating; como antes — like before). It contrasts with después (after/afterwards). When followed by a noun or pronoun it requires de: antes del examen (before the exam). In Spain, antes also appears in the phrase cuanto antes meaning 'as soon as possible' — an idiomatic trap for learners who expect lo más pronto posible.

Examples

"Llama antes de venir, por favor."

Natural Translation

Call before coming, please.

Related Words

Explore Spanish by topic

SpanishNow

Spanish Reflexive Verbs: Me, Te, Se Made Clear

Spanish reflexive verbs use me, te, se for actions you do to yourself. Master the daily-routine pattern, pronoun placement, and shifts like dormir vs dormirse.

June 9, 2026 6 min read

SpanishNow

Spanish Subjunctive Explained Simply for Beginners

The Spanish subjunctive is a mood, not a tense — use it after a WEIRDO trigger plus que. Learn the one rule, the yo-form recipe, and the lines you already say.

June 9, 2026 5 min read

SpanishNow

How to Say "I Like" in Spanish: Gustar Without the Confusion

Say I like in Spanish with gustar the right way: me gusta vs me gustan, why it's never yo gusto, the pronouns, articles, and five verbs that copy the pattern.

June 9, 2026 6 min read

SpanishNow

Spanish Diminutives: What -ito and -ita Really Mean

Spanish diminutives rarely mean 'little.' Learn what -ito and -ita really signal — warmth, softening, downplaying — plus the -cito and -ecito formation rules.

June 9, 2026 6 min read