próxima

Próxima is the feminine form of the adjective próximo in Spanish and Portuguese. It conveys meanings such as next, upcoming, or nearest, depending on context, and it agrees in gender with the noun it modifies. It is used before feminine nouns to indicate something that follows in sequence or is closest in space or time; the masculine form is próximo.

In both languages, the acute accent on ó marks the stressed syllable, helping to indicate correct pronunciation and to distinguish this form from other related words. The word functions as a regular, gendered adjective and changes to próximo when describing masculine nouns in the same contexts.

Usage and scope: In Spanish, próx­ima appears before feminine nouns to signal the next item in a series or the nearest in proximity. In Portuguese, pró­xima serves a similar grammatical role, appearing before feminine nouns to express the same ideas of succession or proximity.

Notable uses: In astronomy, the proper name Proxima Centauri uses the form as part of a transliterated name for the star. Proxima Centauri is the closest known star to the Sun and lies in the Centaurus constellation, at an estimated distance of about 4.24 light-years. The term pró­xima is thus encountered both as a common grammatical form and as part of a well-known astronomical designation.

See also: Próximo, Proxima Centauri.