What does "cerca de" mean?
The phrase "cerca de" translates to "near," "close to," or "approximately." It has two main uses: a physical one to describe proximity to a place or person, and an approximate one to indicate a rough number or quantity. Both uses are extremely common in everyday Spanish.
Examples
1.
¿Hay una farmacia cerca de aquí?
Is there a pharmacy near here? (presente de indicativo)
Is there a pharmacy near here? (presente de indicativo)
2.
De niño, vivía cerca de la playa y iba todos los veranos.
As a child, I lived near the beach and went every summer. (imperfecto de indicativo)
As a child, I lived near the beach and went every summer. (imperfecto de indicativo)
3.
Encontramos un buen restaurante cerca del hotel.
We found a good restaurant near the hotel. (pretérito)
We found a good restaurant near the hotel. (pretérito)
4.
La nueva oficina estará cerca de la estación de metro.
The new office will be near the metro station. (futuro)
The new office will be near the metro station. (futuro)
5.
Me gustaría vivir cerca del trabajo para no perder tanto tiempo.
I would like to live near work so as not to waste so much time. (potencial simple)
I would like to live near work so as not to waste so much time. (potencial simple)
6.
Espero que el apartamento esté cerca de un colegio.
I hope the flat is near a school. (presente de subjuntivo)
I hope the flat is near a school. (presente de subjuntivo)
7.
Buscaba un piso que estuviera cerca del centro y que no fuera muy caro.
She was looking for a flat that was near the centre and not too expensive. (imperfecto de subjuntivo)
She was looking for a flat that was near the centre and not too expensive. (imperfecto de subjuntivo)
8.
¿Has estado alguna vez cerca de la Torre Eiffel?
Have you ever been near the Eiffel Tower? (perfecto de indicativo)
Have you ever been near the Eiffel Tower? (perfecto de indicativo)
9.
Cuando llegamos al hospital, el médico ya había estado cerca de dos horas operando.
When we arrived at the hospital, the doctor had already been operating for close to two hours. (pluscuamperfecto de indicativo)
When we arrived at the hospital, the doctor had already been operating for close to two hours. (pluscuamperfecto de indicativo)
10.
Apenas hubieron construido el puente cerca del pueblo, el tráfico mejoró notablemente.
As soon as they had built the bridge near the village, traffic improved noticeably. (pretérito anterior — literary/formal)
As soon as they had built the bridge near the village, traffic improved noticeably. (pretérito anterior — literary/formal)
11.
Para el verano, habremos encontrado un apartamento cerca de la playa.
By summer, we will have found a flat near the beach. (futuro perfecto)
By summer, we will have found a flat near the beach. (futuro perfecto)
12.
Habría comprado esa casa cerca del parque, pero era demasiado cara.
I would have bought that house near the park, but it was too expensive. (potencial compuesto)
I would have bought that house near the park, but it was too expensive. (potencial compuesto)
13.
No creo que hayan abierto una tienda nueva cerca de tu casa.
I don't think they have opened a new shop near your house. (perfecto de subjuntivo)
I don't think they have opened a new shop near your house. (perfecto de subjuntivo)
14.
Si hubiera vivido cerca del trabajo, habría ahorrado cerca de dos horas al día.
If I had lived near work, I would have saved close to two hours a day. (pluscuamperfecto de subjuntivo)
If I had lived near work, I would have saved close to two hours a day. (pluscuamperfecto de subjuntivo)
15.
Busca un hotel cerca del centro para no tener que coger taxi.
Look for a hotel near the centre so you don't have to take a taxi. (imperativo)
Look for a hotel near the centre so you don't have to take a taxi. (imperativo)