frente

Frente is a word in Spanish and Portuguese with multiple related meanings, all derived from the idea of the forward part of something. In both languages, it is used to denote the anterior or forward position, such as the front or forepart of a person, object, or building. In anatomy, frente can refer to the forehead, while in architecture it can indicate the front facade or main face of a structure.

In everyday usage, frente can refer to the front side of things, for example the front of a house or the face of a person. It is also employed in military terms to signify the front line or the entire theatre of operations, as in “el frente” or “frente de batalla.” In meteorology, a frente describes a boundary between air masses, including frente frío (cold front), frente cálido (warm front), and front estacionario (stationary front).

In political contexts, frente commonly designates a coalition or political front, often used in names such as Frente Popular or Frente Amplio, signaling an alliance of groups with common goals. The term is widely used in both Spain and Latin America, as well as in Portuguese-speaking regions, with similar senses of front, forepart, or front-facing group.

Etymology traces frente to Latin frons, meaning forehead or front, which evolved in the Romance languages to cover the various senses of front, facade, boundary, and organized grouping. In both Spanish and Portuguese, the word remains a versatile term across body, spatial, meteorological, military, and political domains.