Próximo

Próximo is an adjective used in Spanish and Portuguese with senses of temporal succession and spatial proximity. In both languages it generally means “the next” in a sequence or “nearest/nearby” in space, and it can function as a determiner before a noun (for example, el próximo tren in Spanish, a próxima estação in Portuguese). The forms agree with gender and number: masculino próximo, femenina próxima; plurales próximos, próximas in both languages.

Etymology and cognates: the word derives from Latin proximus, meaning “nearest,” related to propinquus and prope “near.” It has cognates in other Romance languages, such as Italian prossimo and French prochain, which share related meanings and usage.

Usage notes in Spanish: próximo is commonly used for upcoming time frames—próxima semana, próximo mes, próxima vez—and for near physical distance, as in un pueblo próximo or la casa próxima a la playa. In many contexts, synonyms include cercano or más cercano, though próximo often carries a sense of sequence or immediacy.

Usage notes in Portuguese: próximo likewise marks upcoming periods—na próxima semana, no próximo mês—often with nuances of plan or order. It can also indicate closeness of distance, as in a casa próxima de nós (near to us). The phrase próximo a expresses proximity, roughly “close to.”

Formal and stylistic considerations: in both languages, próximo can convey formal or neutral tone depending on context, while more emphatic synonyms for distance include perto or próximo de; for time, próximo often pairs with soon-to-occur events or steps in a sequence.

See also: proximidade, próximo/ades: varieties across Spanish and Portuguese show shared roots in proximity and sequence.