What does "delante de" mean?

The phrase "delante de" translates to "in front of" or "ahead of." It is used to indicate that something or someone is positioned in front of a reference point. It can be used both physically to describe location and figuratively to describe a situation someone faces. It is one of the most essential positional phrases in everyday Spanish.

Examples

1.
El taxi está esperando delante de la puerta.
The taxi is waiting in front of the door. (presente de indicativo)
2.
¿Puedes aparcar delante del banco un momento?
Can you park in front of the bank for a moment? (presente de indicativo — question)
3.
De niño, siempre me sentaba delante de la televisión a hacer los deberes.
As a child, I always sat in front of the television to do my homework. (imperfecto de indicativo)
4.
Se quedó delante de todos y pidió disculpas por lo ocurrido.
He stood in front of everyone and apologised for what had happened. (pretérito)
5.
Tendrás que hablar delante de todo el equipo en la próxima reunión.
You will have to speak in front of the whole team at the next meeting. (futuro)
6.
Yo no diría eso delante de tu jefe si fuera tú.
I would not say that in front of your boss if I were you. (potencial simple)
7.
No quiero que los niños discutan delante de los abuelos.
I don't want the children to argue in front of the grandparents. (presente de subjuntivo)
8.
Me pidió que no mencionara el tema delante de sus compañeros.
She asked me not to mention the subject in front of her colleagues. (imperfecto de subjuntivo)
9.
¿Has hablado alguna vez delante de mucha gente?
Have you ever spoken in front of a large audience? (perfecto de indicativo)
10.
Cuando llegué al teatro, ya se había formado una cola larga delante de la entrada.
When I arrived at the theatre, a long queue had already formed in front of the entrance. (pluscuamperfecto de indicativo)
11.
Apenas hubieron colocado el cartel delante del edificio, empezaron a llegar los clientes.
As soon as they had placed the sign in front of the building, customers started arriving. (pretérito anterior — literary/formal)
12.
Para cuando empiece la ceremonia, ya habremos colocado las sillas delante del escenario.
By the time the ceremony begins, we will have placed the chairs in front of the stage. (futuro perfecto)
13.
Habría aparcado delante del restaurante, pero no había sitio libre.
I would have parked in front of the restaurant, but there was no free space. (potencial compuesto)
14.
No creo que hayan puesto una valla delante de la entrada sin pedir permiso.
I don't think they have put a fence in front of the entrance without asking for permission. (perfecto de subjuntivo)
15.
Si hubiera sabido que tendría que hablar delante de tanta gente, me habría preparado mejor.
If I had known I would have to speak in front of so many people, I would have prepared better. (pluscuamperfecto de subjuntivo)