Delante vs frente

[HomoVulgaris]

¿Cuál es la diferencia principal entre las frases "está delante de ellos" y "está frente de ellos"?

Gracias.
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What is the main difference between phrases "está delante de ellos" and "está frente de ellos"?

Thank you.

[chileno]

Delante de = in front of

En frente de= in front of.

[JPablo]

Originally Posted by HomoVulgaris

¿Cuál es la diferencia principal entre las frases "está delante de ellos" y "está frente de ellos"?

Gracias.
---
What is the main difference between phrases "está delante de ellos" and "está frente de ellos"?

Thank you.

Chileno is correct, but I can give you a difference I could see.

Delante de = in front of.
But it can also be understood as "ahead of". Like "Contador [cyclist winner of Tour de France] está [or va] delante de ellos".

en frente de
or
frente a = in front of /face up to (also "opposite to") /facing

Also the word 'together' enfrente
1 (al otro lado de una calle, etc) opposite; vive justo enfrente = he lives just opposite, he lives just across the street;
ese bloque que están construyendo ahí enfrente = that block
they’re building across the road, that block they’re building over there (on the other side of the road);

enfrente DE algo/alguien:
queda enfrente del parque = it’s opposite the park, it’s across the road from the park;
siéntate enfrente de mí = sit facing o opposite me

2 (delante) in front; enfrente DE algo in front of sth

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

I found a few mariachis to help me illustrate how we use some of those words around here... I think it's not too far away from what Pablo has said though:

[JPablo]

Hey!
¡Arrrrriba México!
Good illustration!

[HomoVulgaris]

Gracias AngelicaDeAlquezar, Jpablo y Chileno - ahora entiendo la diferencia.
@AngelicaDeAlquezar: su ejemplo gráfico es magnífico.

[laepelba]

I loved the explanation AND the image. Thanks to both of you!!

Doesn't "en frente" also have a more figurative usage, too? " ... frente a un crisis de salud ... " or something along those lines?

[JPablo]

You're welcome. (I also loved Angélica's post! Thank you Angie! )
Yes, but this is without "en", just "frente a una crisis". I'd say that's something like "facing a health crisis" or "in the face of a health crisis".

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

Thanks, it was fun.

@Lou Ann: As Pablo has said, for a figurative use, it's "frente a", not "enfrente de".

Aquellos mártires practicaron la desobediencia frente a un gobierno autoritario.
Those martyrs practiced disobedience to confront an authoritarian government.

¿Qué podíamos hacer frente a una situación tan desagradable?
What could we do when facing such an unpleasant situation?

[laepelba]

Gotcha!