Introduction
Learn how to say and understand the phrase about distance in Spanish with simple, everyday examples. This article explains the meaning of the phrase, offers useful vocabulary, shows beginner-friendly sentences, and gives tips to avoid common mistakes when using the expression in Latin American Spanish.
- What does Está lejos mean?
- Basic patterns with Está lejos
- Everyday examples for beginners
- Short dialogues using Está lejos
- Common verbs and time words with Está lejos
- Directions and distance phrases to pair with Está lejos
- Polite and casual ways to say the same thing
- Mini practice: Fill-in examples for beginners
- Common mistakes and how to avoid them
- Quick tips for remembering Está lejos
- Simple classroom or travel scenarios
- Practice resources and simple exercises
- Conclusion
What does Está lejos mean?
The phrase Está lejos literally means it is far or it is far away. Use it when you want to describe distance between places, people, or objects. For a beginner, knowing this phrase helps in travel, directions, and simple conversation.
Key words to know
Está — third-person singular of estar, used for location or temporary states. Examples: está.
Lejos — adverb meaning far or far away. Examples: lejos.
Cerca — opposite of lejos; means near. Examples: cerca.
Aquí — here. Examples: aquí.
Allí — there (over there). Examples: allí.
A la derecha — to the right. Examples: a la derecha.
A la izquierda — to the left. Examples: a la izquierda.
Basic patterns with Está lejos
Begin with simple sentence structures. Use Está lejos alone to answer a question about distance. Add place words for clarity. Replace está with other verbs when needed, but starters should focus on location with estar.
Simple answers
Yes/no question: ¿La estación está lejos?
Answer: Está lejos.
Question with place: ¿El supermercado está lejos?
Answer: Está lejos, a cinco minutos en coche.
With a location
Está lejos de la estación.
Translation: It is far from the station.
Está cerca del parque.
Translation: It is near the park.
Everyday examples for beginners
These examples are short, practical, and useful in travel, asking for directions, or chatting about distances.
At a bus stop:
¿La parada está lejos?
Está lejos, tienes que caminar mucho.
Asking a friend:
¿La playa está lejos de aquí?
Está lejos, como una hora en autobús.
On a map:
El museo está lejos del centro.
Si vas en taxi, tardas veinte minutos.
At a hotel:
¿El aeropuerto está lejos?
No, no está lejos, solo quince minutos.
Shopping:
¿La tienda de ropa está lejos?
Sí, está lejos, está al otro lado de la ciudad.
Short dialogues using Está lejos
Short, realistic dialogues help beginners hear the phrase in context and practice typical responses.
Dialogue 1:
— ¿La biblioteca está lejos?
— Está lejos, pero hay un autobús directo.
Dialogue 2:
— ¿La oficina del doctor está lejos?
— No, no está lejos, está cerca del parque.
Dialogue 3:
— ¿Tu casa está lejos de la escuela?
— Sí, está lejos, tardo cuarenta minutos.
Common verbs and time words with Está lejos
Add verbs and simple time expressions to make longer sentences while keeping them easy for beginners.
Common verbs:
llegar — to arrive
ir — to go
caminar — to walk
conducir — to drive
tardar — to take time
Time words:
minutos — minutes
horas — hours
cerca — near
lejos — far
Example sentences:
El parque está lejos, tienes que conducir.
El teatro está a veinte minutos andando.
Directions and distance phrases to pair with Está lejos
Combine directional words with está lejos to give clearer directions. These are common in everyday speech and signs.
Examples:
La farmacia está lejos a la derecha.
La estación está lejos, a la izquierda de la plaza.
Short signs or notes you might see:
Estadio: está lejos — use transporte.
Centro de salud: está cerca del mercado.
Polite and casual ways to say the same thing
Beginners should learn both casual and polite phrases so they can speak comfortably in different situations.
Casual:
¿Está lejos? — Sí, está lejos.
Polite / formal:
Disculpe, ¿esta dirección está lejos?
Respuesta: No, no está lejos, puede ir caminando.
Using negative and contrast forms
Learn negatives and contrasts to be more expressive and clear.
No está lejos — it is not far.
No está muy lejos — it is not very far.
Está lejos, pero hay un autobús directo — it is far, but there is a direct bus.
Mini practice: Fill-in examples for beginners
Use these short practice lines to test yourself. Replace the blank with está lejos or another short phrase.
1) ¿El restaurante _______?
Answer: está lejos.
2) ¿La escuela _______?
Answer: No, no está lejos, está cerca.
3) ¿El cine _______?
Answer: Sí, está lejos, mejor ir en coche.
Common mistakes and how to avoid them
Beginners often make predictable errors. Here are three typical mistakes and simple corrections.
Mistake 1: Using estar with wrong subject.
Wrong: Yo está lejos.
Correct: Está lejos or Estoy lejos when referring to myself.
Explanation: Use estoy for I am, está for he/she/it is or formal you.
Mistake 2: Confusing lejos and cerca.
Wrong: La tienda está cerca when it is far.
Correct: La tienda está lejos.
Tip: Repeat both pairs aloud: lejos — far, cerca — near.
Mistake 3: Forgetting de after lejos when giving origin.
Wrong: Está lejos la estación.
Correct: La estación está lejos or Está lejos de aquí.
Tip: Use de to show from where: lejos de aquí.
Quick tips for remembering Está lejos
Memory tip 1: Link the sound of lejos to the English word large — both suggest distance.
Memory tip 2: Practice with route phrases: caminar, conducir, tomar el autobús. Pair each with está lejos or está cerca.
Memory tip 3: Use real places near you to make examples meaningful: la casa de mi amigo, la escuela, el supermercado. Make short sentences: Mi amigo está lejos, la tienda está cerca.
Simple classroom or travel scenarios
Short, realistic situations where beginners will use está lejos. These are useful for role-play practice.
Scenario: Tourist asking directions at a hotel
Turista: Disculpe, ¿el mercado está lejos?
Recepcionista: No, no está lejos, está a diez minutos caminando.
Scenario: Student talking about commute
Estudiante: Mi universidad está lejos de mi casa.
Compañero: ¿Cuánto tardas?
Estudiante: Tardo treinta minutos en bus.
Practice resources and simple exercises
Use these short exercises to reinforce learning. Say them aloud, write them down, or use them in conversation practice.
Exercise 1: Describe three places near you using está lejos or está cerca.
Exercise 2: Role-play asking for directions to a place and responding with a time estimate: ¿Está lejos? — Está lejos, son veinte minutos.
Exercise 3: Make a short list of signs or labels you might see that use distance words: farmacia — está lejos, parque — está cerca, estación — está lejos de aquí.
Conclusion
Mastering está lejos gives beginners a practical way to talk about distance in everyday situations. Use the short examples, dialogues, and tips here to practice talking about places, directions, and travel. Focus on correct verb forms, small time words, and pairing está with location phrases to communicate clearly.
