llegar
arrive
Es ir a un lugar y estar allí después de moverse desde otro sitio.
Definition & meaning
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To arrive or reach a place: to come to a destination.
- Llegamos a Madrid. — “We arrived in Madrid.”
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To reach a point, level, or amount:
- La temperatura llegó a 30 grados. — “The temperature reached 30 degrees.”
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To manage to do something or eventually do it:
- Llegó a ser médico. — “He eventually became a doctor.”
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To be enough or extend far enough:
- El dinero no llega. — “There isn’t enough money.”
Grammar & Word origin
Llegar is a regular -ar verb, except for a spelling change before e: the g becomes gu to preserve its sound, as in llegué (“I arrived”).
It comes from Latin plicāre, originally meaning “to fold.” Its meaning developed through the idea of bringing a ship to shore.
Synonyms & antonyms
- arribar — “to arrive”; often more formal or literary.
- alcanzar — “to reach”; emphasizes attaining a place, level, or goal.
- salir — “to leave”; contrasts with arriving.
- partir — “to depart”; often more formal than salir.
Common phrases & collocations
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Examples
Hoy llego temprano a casa.verb
Today I arrive home early.
Voy a llegar temprano al trabajo.verb
I am going to arrive early at work.
Ellos pueden llegar al parque ahora.verb
They can arrive at the park now.
Él necesita llegar a casa pronto.verb
He needs to arrive home soon.
Maria puede llegar mañana.verb
Maria can arrive tomorrow.
Ya quiero llegar a la escuela.verb
I already want to arrive at the school.
¿A qué hora llegan tus padres?verb
What time do your parents arrive?
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