In Spanish, to say "inside" or "inside something" as an adverb of place, we use "dentro" or "dentro de [algo]" respectively. For example:
"Dentro" in Spanish = inside
"Dentro de" in Spanish = Inside [something]
Notice how for inside something we need the preposition "de" and if the noun is singular masculine you need the contracted "del" (not de el). If the noun is feminine then you need "de la":
- dentro del zapato (zapato = singular masculine noun)
- dentro de la bolsa (bolsa = singular feminine noun)
It's a common mistake for English speakers to omit the preposition as you don't need it in English.
This is incorrect:
- Dentro el zapato
- Dentro la bolsa
Like in English we also use the preposition "en" to indicate "in/inside [something]", but dentro de is more precise for "inside":
Está en la bolsa. ~ Está dentro de la bolsa.
Está en el zapato. ~ Está dentro del zapato.
Note that we sometimes use "adentro" for "inside a place" (not for inside something) and this is also correct:
See also a list of adverbs of place:
For other uses of dentro de see Using dentro de for in/within/among in Spanish (time/place)
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