What does tras in Spanish mean?

What is the meaning of the word tras in Spanish? The article explains the full meaning, pronunciation along with bilingual examples and instructions on how to use tras in Spanish.

The word tras in Spanish means after, behind, after, back-, trans-, year after year, take a step back, take a step back, day after day, generation after generation, behind the scenes, behind closed doors, not only betrayal but punishment, time after time, once and again, one after another. To learn more, please see the details below.

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Meaning of the word tras

after

preposición (después de) (later in time)

(preposition: Relates noun or pronoun to another element of sentence--for example, "a picture of John," "She walked from my house to yours.")
Tras la cena, nos fuimos a dormir.
After dinner we went to sleep.

behind

preposición (detrás de) (on other side of [sth])

(preposition: Relates noun or pronoun to another element of sentence--for example, "a picture of John," "She walked from my house to yours.")
Juan se escondió tras la puerta.
Juan hid behind the door.

after

preposición (en busca de) (in search of)

(preposition: Relates noun or pronoun to another element of sentence--for example, "a picture of John," "She walked from my house to yours.")
Juan no quiere a Ana; va tras su dinero.
Juan doesn't love Ana. He's just after her money.

back-

prefijo (del otro lado de)

(prefix: Added to front of word stem--for example, unsaid = un+said.)
Ejemplo: trasfondo, trasfondo.

trans-

prefijo (que atraviesa)

(prefix: Added to front of word stem--for example, unsaid = un+said.)
Ejemplo: transbordador, transoceánico.

year after year

locución adverbial (siempre)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Se hizo vieja esperando año tras año la llegada de su príncipe azul.
She got old waiting year after year for her prince charming to arrive.

take a step back

locución verbal (coloquial (desistir)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Si das marcha atrás no alcanzarás tus objetivos.

take a step back

locución verbal (coloquial (arrepentirse)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
No vale la pena dar marcha atrás, el pasado no se puede cambiar.

day after day

locución adverbial (constantemente)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")
Día tras día, María trabaja para alimentar a sus hijos.
Day after day, Maria works to feed her children.

generation after generation

expresión (desde tiempos remotos)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
La leyenda se cuenta generación tras generación.
The legend is repeated generation after generation.

behind the scenes

locución adverbial (de un teatro)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")
Los actores se preparan tras bastidores antes de salir a escena.
The actors prepare behind the scenes before going on stage.

behind closed doors

locución adverbial (figurado (fuera de vista)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")
El Gobierno llegó a un acuerdo tras bastidores con el grupo guerrillero.
The government reached an agreement behind closed doors with the guerrilla group.

not only betrayal but punishment

expresión (algo que empeora)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

time after time, once and again

locución adverbial (de manera repetida)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")
Sé que he cometido errores una vez tras otra, pero te pido que me des otra oportunidad.

one after another

locución adverbial (uno a uno)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Uno tras otro, los obreros entraron en la fábrica para empezar sus labores.
One after another, the workers entered the factory to begin their work.

Let's learn Spanish

So now that you know more about the meaning of tras in Spanish, you can learn how to use them through selected examples and how to read them. And remember to learn the related words that we suggest. Our website is constantly updating with new words and new examples so you can look up the meanings of other words you don't know in Spanish.

Do you know about Spanish

Spanish (español), also known as Castilla, is a language of the Iberian-Romance group of the Romance languages, and the 4th most common language in the world according to Some sources, while others list it as a 2nd or 3rd most common language. It is the mother tongue of about 352 million people, and is spoken by 417 million people when adding its speakers as a language. sub (estimated in 1999). Spanish and Portuguese have very similar grammar and vocabulary; The number of similar vocabulary of these two languages is up to 89%. Spanish is the primary language of 20 countries around the world. It is estimated that the total number of speakers of Spanish is between 470 and 500 million, making it the second most widely spoken language in the world by number of native speakers.