Detrás del arbusto vimos un conejo pequeño.

Spanish is more flexible than English with word order. The most neutral order would be something like:

Vimos un conejo pequeño detrás del arbusto.

But putting Detrás del arbusto first is very natural if the speaker wants to set the scene first, a bit like:

Behind the bush, we saw a small rabbit.

So this word order adds focus to the location, but it does not change the basic meaning.

Because de + el contracts to del in Spanish.

So:

• de + el = del
• a + el = al

That means:

• detrás de el arbusto → detrás del arbusto

This contraction is required with el when it is the article the.

In Spanish, detrás normally works with de when you say what something is behind.

So:

• detrás de la casa = behind the house
• detrás del arbusto = behind the bush

You should learn detrás de as a set phrase.

Vimos is the preterite form of the verb ver (to see) for nosotros (we).

So:

• ver = to see
• vimos = we saw

The preterite is used here because it refers to a completed action in the past: we saw the rabbit at that moment.

Because Spanish often leaves out subject pronouns when the verb ending already shows who is doing the action.

Here, vimos already means we saw, so nosotros is unnecessary.

You could say:

Nosotros vimos un conejo pequeño.

But in most cases Spanish prefers:

Vimos un conejo pequeño.

This is about the difference between the preterite and the imperfect.

• vimos = we saw → a completed event
• veíamos = we were seeing / we used to see → ongoing, repeated, or background action

In this sentence, the rabbit is presented as something the speakers noticed at a particular moment, so vimos fits better.

Both are possible, but they can sound slightly different.

• un conejo pequeño usually gives the straightforward, literal meaning: a rabbit that is small
• un pequeño conejo can sound a bit more expressive, literary, or affectionate

So conejo pequeño is the more neutral and everyday way to say a small rabbit here.

Yes, adjective position can matter.

With many adjectives, including pequeño, placing the adjective:

• after the noun often gives a more literal, descriptive meaning
• before the noun can make it sound more subjective, emotional, or stylistic

So:

• un conejo pequeño = a small rabbit, literally small
• un pequeño conejo = a little rabbit, possibly more affectionate or expressive

In this sentence, the after-noun position is the most neutral choice.

Un is the indefinite article used before a masculine singular noun:

• un conejo = a rabbit

Uno is usually used as a number or pronoun:

• uno, dos, tres = one, two, three
• uno de ellos = one of them

So before conejo, you need un, not uno.

The noun arbusto is masculine, so it takes:

• el arbusto = the bush
• un arbusto = a bush

There is not always a perfect rule for gender, but nouns ending in -o are very often masculine, and arbusto follows that common pattern.

Yes, absolutely. That is also correct and may feel more neutral to some learners because it is closer to typical English word order.

Compare:

• Detrás del arbusto vimos un conejo pequeño. → puts the location first
• Vimos un conejo pequeño detrás del arbusto. → puts the action first

Both are natural. The difference is mainly emphasis and rhythm.

The accent mark shows where the stress goes:

• de-TRÁS

Without the accent, the stress rules would make you expect a different pronunciation.

A rough pronunciation guide:

• Detrás ≈ deh-TRAS
• arbusto ≈ ar-BOOS-to
• vimos ≈ BEE-mos
• conejo ≈ ko-NE-ho
• pequeño ≈ peh-KE-nyo

A few useful pronunciation notes for Spain Spanish:

• j in conejo is a strong throaty sound
• ñ in pequeño sounds like ny in canyon
• v and b are pronounced very similarly in Spanish

Not exactly.

• detrás de means behind something
• atrás usually means back, back there, or toward the back

Examples:

• detrás del arbusto = behind the bush
• ve atrás = go back
• está atrás = it is in the back / at the back

So in this sentence, detrás de is the correct choice because it expresses position relative to the bush.