How to Ask About Distance in Spanish: 'Is It Far From Here?' and Time Estimates
Learn to ask ¿Está lejos de aquí? and understand answers about distance and travel time in everyday Latin American Spanish.
By SofiaGetting around · Yapr Learn
When you ask for directions in Spanish, the answer often includes distance: 'It's close,' 'It's far,' or 'It's about ten minutes.' This lesson teaches you to ask whether a place is far from where you are, and to understand simple time estimates you hear in reply. You will practice the key question ¿Está lejos de aquí? and common answers such as Está cerca, Está lejos, and Está a diez minutos. The focus stays on distance and time, not on turn-by-turn directions.
By the end, you can…
- ask whether a place is far from here using ¿Está lejos de aquí?
- understand and give simple distance and time estimates like Está cerca or Está a quince minutos
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
¿Está lejos de aquí?
Is it far from here?
eh-STAH LEH-hohs deh ah-KEE
Use está for one place or destination. The j in lejos is a harsh h-like sound, and the final s is pronounced in most of Latin America.
¿Qué tan lejos está?
How far is it?
keh tahn LEH-hohs eh-STAH
Very common in Latin America. In Spain you will more often hear ¿Cómo de lejos está?
Está cerca.
It's close.
eh-STAH SEHR-kah
A simple answer meaning the place is near. Cerca is an adverb and does not change form.
Está a diez minutos.
It's ten minutes away.
eh-STAH ah dyehs mee-NOO-tohs
Use a plus a number plus minutos to give a time estimate. This is about travel time, not exact distance.
Está a dos cuadras.
It's two blocks away.
eh-STAH ah dohs KWAH-drahs
Cuadras is common in many Latin American countries. In Spain, people often say manzanas instead.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The core pattern is ¿Está lejos de aquí? You can replace lejos with cerca to ask the opposite: ¿Está cerca de aquí? To ask about a specific place, name it first: ¿El museo está lejos de aquí? For time estimates, use estar + a + number + minutos: Está a cinco minutos, Está a veinte minutos. You can also say Está a dos cuadras for blocks. Keep está for one place; use están for more than one: ¿Están lejos los baños?
When to use it
Use these questions when you already know the name of a place but not how far it is. For example, at a hotel: ¿El centro está lejos de aquí? A helpful answer might be No, está cerca, a diez minutos caminando. Add caminando to clarify walking time, or en carro for driving. If you hear más o menos, it means 'more or less' and signals a moderate distance. These phrases work in most Latin American cities, though block sizes and traffic can change real travel time.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Disculpe, ¿el mercado está lejos de aquí?
Excuse me, is the market far from here?dees-KOOL-peh, ehl mehr-KAH-doh eh-STAH LEH-hohs deh ah-KEENo, está cerca. Está a diez minutos caminando.
No, it's close. It's ten minutes away on foot.noh, eh-STAH SEHR-kah. eh-STAH ah dyehs mee-NOO-tohs kah-mee-NAHN-doh¿Y qué tan lejos está la playa?
And how far is the beach?ee keh tahn LEH-hohs eh-STAH lah PLAH-yahLa playa está lejos, a unos treinta minutos en carro.
The beach is far, about thirty minutes by car.lah PLAH-yah eh-STAH LEH-hohs, ah OO-nohs treyn-tah mee-NOO-tohs ehn KAH-rrohA little context goes a long way
In Latin America, distance is often described by travel time rather than exact kilometers. A place may be 'cerca' in distance but 'lejos' in time because of traffic. Using disculpe before a question is polite and common with strangers. Regional words for blocks vary: cuadras is widespread in Latin America, while manzanas is typical in Spain.
One thing to watch for
Saying Es lejos de aquí instead of Está lejos de aquí.
Try this instead: Use estar for location: ¿Está lejos de aquí? Es is used for identity or characteristics, as in Es un lugar bonito. For distance and location, choose está: El museo está lejos.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you ask 'Is it far from here?' in Spanish?
Show a sample answer
¿Está lejos de aquí?
This uses está for location and lejos de aquí for 'far from here.' You could also ask ¿Está lejos? if the place is already clear.
2Someone says 'Está a quince minutos.' What does that mean?
Show a sample answer
It's fifteen minutes away.
Está a plus a number plus minutos gives a time estimate. It usually refers to travel time, not exact distance.
3How would you say 'It's two blocks away' in Latin American Spanish?
Show a sample answer
Está a dos cuadras.
Cuadras means 'blocks' in much of Latin America. In Spain, manzanas is more common, so Está a dos manzanas also works there.
Ask ¿Está lejos de aquí? and listen for cerca, lejos, or a plus time like a diez minutos. Distance in Spanish is often about travel time, not exact numbers.
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