afuera

Afuera is a Spanish adverb used to indicate location outside or beyond a place. It can also function as part of noun phrases, most notably in las afueras, which refer to the outskirts or suburbs of a town or city. In common usage, afuera contrasts with adentro, meaning inside or indoors, and with the prepositional phrase fuera de to indicate being outside of a boundary or object.

Etymology and forms: Afuera is derived from fuera, with the prefixed a- indicating direction or movement toward the exterior. The plural noun form las afueras denotes the external areas surrounding a central settlement. Both afuera and las afueras are widely used across Spanish-speaking regions, though preferences may vary by country.

Usage and examples: Afuera can describe location, as in Está afuera (It’s outside) or Hace frío afuera (It’s cold outside). It is also used in imperatives to direct someone outward, such as Salimos para afuera or Vamos para afuera, though the latter can be more common in some dialects. The expression fuera de, followed by a noun, communicates exclusion or being outside of a boundary, as in fuera de la casa (outside the house) or fuera de peligro (out of danger). The term las afueras refers to the outskirts rather than central urban areas.

Regional notes: In many Latin American varieties, afuera is common in everyday speech for outdoor or exterior contexts, while in some dialects fuera may be more frequent in formal or fixed constructions. Las afueras are a standard way to name suburban districts or peripheral zones in multiple countries.

See also: fuera, dentro, afueras, expresar ubicación, expresiones de lugar.