Excel LEFT function
Returns the first characters of a text. In Spanish Excel it is called IZQUIERDA.
Syntax
English Excel
=LEFT(text, [num_chars])
Spanish Excel (Mexico)
=IZQUIERDA(texto, [núm_de_caracteres])
Spanish Excel (Spain, Latin America)
=IZQUIERDA(texto; [núm_de_caracteres])
| Argument | What it is |
|---|---|
| text | The text or cell. |
| num_charsoptional | How many characters to take; 1 by default. |
Example
LEFT(text, n) takes the first n characters and RIGHT(text, n) the last ones. They split codes whose parts have a fixed length.
=LEFT(A2,3)
Common mistake
The result is always text: LEFT("2026-01",4) gives "2026", not the number 2026.
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Practice LEFT
Type the formula in the sheet and check it instantly. Spanish or English function names both work. See all lessons
LEFT and RIGHT
LEFT(text, n) takes the first n characters and RIGHT(text, n) the last ones. They split codes whose parts have a fixed length.
In B2, extract the 3-letter state code at the start of the reference.
| A | B | C | D | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Reference | State | Number | |
| 2 | JAL-2026-0457 | |||
| 3 | CDM-2026-1203 | |||
| 4 | NLE-2026-0089 | |||
| 5 | YUC-2026-0731 | |||
| 6 | PUE-2026-0015 | |||
| 7 |
Tip: while typing, click a cell or drag across several to insert their reference.
Frequently asked questions
- What is LEFT called in Spanish?
- In Spanish Excel it is IZQUIERDA. The formula =LEFT(A2,3) is written =IZQUIERDA(A2;3) (or with commas in Mexico).
- Why does LEFT use semicolons in some Excel versions?
- It depends on regional settings. Where the comma is the decimal mark (Spain, much of South America), Excel separates arguments with semicolons. English Excel and Mexican Spanish Excel use commas.
- What is the most common LEFT mistake?
- The result is always text: LEFT("2026-01",4) gives "2026", not the number 2026.