Spanish · A2 · Family moment
Before You Head Out in Spanish
This guide helps parents teach children how to prepare and plan safely before leaving the house, using 'antes de' to describe sequences of actions.
What you'll learn
- Use 'antes de' with an infinitive to express sequences
- Identify common items for outings like bike lights and phones
- Communicate safety routines and social plans clearly
Spanish phrases for before you head out
Mira a ambos lados antes de cruzar la calle.
Look both ways before you cross the road.
'Cruzar' is the infinitive form, used after 'antes de'.
Revisa las luces de tu bici antes de salir.
Check your bike lights before you leave.
'Revisa' is the imperative (command) form of 'revisar'.
Dime tu plan antes de quedar con tus amigos.
Tell me your plan before you meet your friends.
'Quedar con' is a common Spanish way to say 'meeting up' with someone.
Termina tu tarea antes de empezar el juego.
Finish your chore before you start the game.
'Tarea' can mean both school homework and household chores.
Pregúntale a tu amigo antes de compartir la foto.
Ask your friend before you share the photo.
The 'le' in 'pregúntale' refers to the friend.
Carga tu móvil antes de ir a la fiesta de pijamas.
Charge your phone before you go to the sleepover.
'Fiesta de pijamas' is the literal translation for sleepover.
Mira los horarios del autobús antes de salir del polideportivo.
Check the bus times before you leave the sports centre.
'Polideportivo' is a common term for a sports or community centre.
Prepara tus cosas antes de irte a la cama.
Pack your things before you go to bed.
'Irte' is the reflexive form of 'ir' (to go).
Hear these phrases and practise them
Tildi plays every phrase out loud, tests you in five-minute lessons and builds them into bedtime stories from your own picture books.
Try it free for 7 daysKey words
Antes de
Before
In Spanish, if the subject remains the same, follow 'antes de' with the infinitive (the -ar, -er, -ir form).
Revisar
To check / To inspect
Useful for checking safety gear or bags.
Móvil
Mobile phone
Standard term in Spain; 'celular' is more common in Latin America.
Horarios
Schedules / Times
Used for bus, train, or school timetables.
Sequencing Actions with 'Antes de'
When describing two actions performed by the same person, Spanish uses 'antes de' + [Infinitive Verb]. This is simpler than English, which often uses a full clause (e.g., 'before you go').
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Before eating | Antes de comer | Lávate las manos antes de comer. |
| Before leaving | Antes de salir | Cierra la puerta antes de salir. |
| Before sleeping | Antes de dormir | Lee un libro antes de dormir. |
More examples
¿Tienes batería? Cárgalo antes de salir.
Do you have battery? Charge it before leaving.
Uses the direct object pronoun 'lo' attached to 'carga'.
Llamame antes de volver a casa.
Call me before coming back home.
A useful safety phrase for independent children.