Lael logo

llegar means to arrive — a common term in Essential Spanish. Learn how it's used in a real-world example.

📅 Published: July 20, 2025

📘 Essential Spanish

llegar

verb • /[yeh-GAR]/

to arrive

Example:

Llegué al aeropuerto con dos horas de antelación.

I arrived at the airport two hours early.

🔍 See more essential spanish words

📱 Download the App

Get reminders · Save favorites · Share words

Lael App Logo

Lael: Spanish Word of the Day

Download on the App Store

🧠 What does llegar mean?

Llegar means 'to arrive' in Spanish. It describes the act of reaching a destination or a point in time. It's a very common verb and essential for everyday communication. You'll use it to talk about arriving at places, reaching milestones, and even achieving goals.

📚 Extra examples

  • Llegamos a Madrid a las tres de la tarde.
    We arrived in Madrid at three in the afternoon.
  • El tren llegó tarde.
    The train arrived late.
  • Espero llegar a casa antes de que empiece a llover.
    I hope to arrive home before it starts raining.
  • Finalmente llegó el día de su boda.
    Finally, the day of their wedding arrived.
  • Llegó a la conclusión de que necesitaba un cambio.
    They arrived at the conclusion that they needed a change.

❓ FAQ

How do you say 'to arrive' in Spanish?
The Spanish word for 'to arrive' is 'llegar'.
How do you pronounce 'llegar' in Spanish?
It's pronounced roughly as 'yeh-GAR', with the 'll' sounding like a 'y' in English. The stress is on the second syllable (GAR).
How do you use 'llegar' in a sentence?
You use 'llegar' with the preposition 'a' to indicate the destination or point in time. For example: 'Llego a casa a las seis' (I arrive home at six).
What is the English translation of 'llegar'?
The English translation of 'llegar' is 'to arrive'.
Does 'llegar' change for gender or number?
No, 'llegar' is conjugated based on the subject pronoun (I, you, he/she/it, we, they), but it doesn't change for gender or number.
Is 'llegar' common in everyday Spanish?
Yes, 'llegar' is an extremely common verb used daily by Spanish speakers.
Does 'llegar' have slang or double meanings?
While 'llegar' itself doesn’t have many slang or double meanings, the preposition 'a' can sometimes be dropped in informal speech when referring to a home, as in 'Llego tarde' (I'm arriving/getting there late).
Is 'llegar' used differently in Spain vs Latin America?
The basic meaning and usage of 'llegar' are the same across Spain and Latin America. Minor differences might exist in some idiomatic expressions, but the core meaning remains consistent.
How do you conjugate 'llegar' in Spanish?
Here's the present tense conjugation: Yo llego (I arrive) Tú llegas (You arrive - informal) Él/Ella/Usted llega (He/She/You - formal arrives) Nosotros/Nosotras llegamos (We arrive) Vosotros/Vosotras llegáis (You arrive - informal Spain) Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes llegan (They/You - formal arrive)

🔁 Synonyms & opposites of "llegar"

Synonyms: aparecer, presentarse
Opposites: salir, partir, irse

💡 Did You Know?

The verb 'llegar' can also be used figuratively to mean 'to reach' a goal or conclusion, adding depth to its meaning beyond just physical arrival.

📱 Download the App

Get reminders · Save favorites · Share words

Lael App Logo

Lael: Spanish Word of the Day

Download on the App Store