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tocar means to touch / to play (instrument) — a common term in Essential Spanish. Learn how it's used in a real-world example.

📅 Published: November 14, 2025

📘 Essential Spanish

tocar

verb • /[toh-CAR]/

to touch / to play (instrument)

Example:

No toques esa pintura fresca.

Don’t touch that wet paint.

🧠 What does tocar mean?

The verb 'tocar' is a versatile and fundamental verb in Spanish with several key meanings. Its most direct translation is 'to touch' or 'to make physical contact with something'. A second primary meaning is 'to play' a musical instrument. Beyond these, 'tocar' is used in many common expressions, such as 'to knock' on a door ('tocar la puerta'), 'to be someone's turn' ('me toca a mí'), or to refer to a topic or subject ('tocar un tema'). Its meaning is highly dependent on the context in which it is used.

📚 Extra examples

  • Por favor, no toques las obras de arte en el museo.
    Please, do not touch the works of art in the museum.
  • Mi hermana toca el violín en una orquesta sinfónica.
    My sister plays the violin in a symphony orchestra.
  • Hoy me toca a mí preparar la cena para la familia.
    Today it's my turn to prepare dinner for the family.

💡 Did You Know?

A very common and important use of 'tocar' is to express that it is someone's turn or responsibility. The structure is often 'tocar + a + person', as in 'Hoy te toca a ti lavar los platos' (Today it's your turn to wash the dishes). This construction uses an indirect object pronoun (me, te, le, nos, os, les). It's a key structure to master for sounding natural in Spanish.

🔁 Synonyms & opposites of "tocar"

Synonyms: palpar, rozar, interpretar, ejecutar
Opposites: soltar, evitar, alejarse, detenerse

🔍 See more essential spanish words

❓ FAQ

How do you say 'to touch' or 'to play an instrument' in Spanish?
The most common and direct way to say both 'to touch' and 'to play an instrument' in Spanish is with the verb 'tocar'.
How do you pronounce 'tocar' in Spanish?
The pronunciation is toh-KAHR. The stress falls on the second syllable, 'car'.
How do you use 'tocar' in a sentence?
You can use it to describe physical contact, like 'El niño tocó al perro suavemente' (The boy touched the dog gently), or to talk about music, 'Ella toca la guitarra muy bien' (She plays the guitar very well).
What is the English translation of 'tocar'?
The primary English translations are 'to touch' and 'to play' (a musical instrument). It can also mean 'to knock', 'to be one's turn', or 'to concern/be about'.
Does 'tocar' change for gender or number?
As a verb, 'tocar' does not change for gender. It is conjugated according to the person (who is doing the action) and the tense (when the action occurs).
Is 'tocar' common in everyday Spanish?
Yes, 'tocar' is a very common and high-frequency verb used daily in all Spanish-speaking regions due to its multiple meanings.
Does 'tocar' have slang or double meanings?
Yes, 'tocar' is used in many idiomatic expressions. For example, 'tocar madera' means 'to knock on wood' for good luck, and 'tocar fondo' means 'to hit rock bottom'.
Is 'tocar' used differently in Spain vs Latin America?
The core meanings of 'tocar' are the same across the Spanish-speaking world. While some specific idiomatic expressions might vary regionally, its main uses are universally understood.
How do you conjugate 'tocar' in Spanish?
'Tocar' is a regular -ar verb in most tenses (e.g., present: yo toco, tú tocas, él toca). However, it has a spelling change in the first-person preterite to maintain the hard 'k' sound: 'yo toqué' (the 'c' changes to 'qu' before an 'e').

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