Llegar vs Venir
Llegar is to arrive 'there'. Venir is to come 'here'.
llegar
To arrive (at a destination that is separate from the speaker).
yeh-GARvenir
To come (towards the speaker's location or a location associated with them).
veh-NEERQuick Rule
Llegar is to arrive 'there'. Venir is to come 'here'.
Think 'Venir' for movement towards the speaker ('Vente para acá' - Come over here). 'Llegar' is for movement towards any other destination.
- When you're joining someone, you can use 'venir' even if you aren't at the destination yet. E.g., 'Nos vemos en el cine. ¿Vienes a las 8?' (Are you coming at 8?).
Comparison Table
| Context | llegar | venir | Why? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Going to a party | Llego a la fiesta a las 9. | Vengo a la fiesta a las 9. | Use 'llegar' if you're telling a third person. Use 'venir' if you're telling the host who is already at the party. |
| Asking about travel | ¿Cuándo llega tu avión? | ¿Cuándo vienes a verme? | 'Llegar' is neutral about the arrival. 'Venir' focuses on the movement towards the speaker (to see me). |
| At the office | Él llega a la oficina a las 8. | Él viene a la oficina a las 8. | Use 'llegar' if you're talking about the office from home. Use 'venir' if you are already at the office when you say it. |
| A delivery | El paquete llega hoy. | El paquete viene hoy. | 'Llegar' is a neutral fact. 'Venir' emphasizes that it is coming *here*, to the speaker's location. |
When to Use "llegar / venir"
llegar
To arrive (at a destination that is separate from the speaker).
yeh-GAR
Arriving at any destination
El tren llega a las cinco.
The train arrives at five.
Reaching a goal or place
Llegamos a la cima de la montaña.
We arrived at the mountain peak.
Talking about someone else's arrival
Mi jefe siempre llega tarde.
My boss always arrives late.
Figurative arrival (e.g., seasons, moments)
Por fin llegó el verano.
Summer finally arrived.
venir
To come (towards the speaker's location or a location associated with them).
veh-NEER
Coming to where the speaker is
¿Vienes a mi casa esta noche?
Are you coming to my house tonight?
Describing movement towards the speaker
Veo que viene un coche.
I see a car coming (towards me).
Joining the speaker's plan or group
Vamos a la playa, ¿vienes?
We're going to the beach, are you coming (with us)?
Figurative origin
De ahí viene el problema.
That's where the problem comes from.
Contrast Examples
With "llegar":
Mi amigo llega a Madrid el martes.
My friend arrives in Madrid on Tuesday. (Neutral fact).
With "venir":
Mi amigo viene a Madrid el martes.
My friend is coming to Madrid on Tuesday. (Highlights he's coming to where I am).
The Difference: 'Llegar' states the fact of arrival. 'Venir' frames the arrival in relation to the speaker's location, making it more personal.
With "llegar":
Ya llegué al concierto. ¿Dónde estás?
I've already arrived at the concert. Where are you? (Focus on reaching the place).
With "venir":
Ya vine al concierto, pero no te veo.
I've already come to the concert, but I don't see you. (Focus on coming to where you are).
The Difference: Both are often used and understood in this context. 'Llegar' is slightly more focused on the destination itself, while 'venir' emphasizes joining the other person.
Common Mistakes
Llego a tu casa en 5 minutos.
Vengo a tu casa en 5 minutos. (Or more commonly: 'Llego en 5 minutos.')
When moving towards the person you're speaking to, the correct verb is 'venir'. However, colloquially, many people just say 'Llego en 5' (I'll arrive in 5), dropping the destination.
Ayer vine a la oficina muy tarde.
Ayer llegué a la oficina muy tarde.
If you are telling this story from home (or anywhere that isn't the office), you use 'llegar' because the movement was not towards your current location.
Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: Llegar vs Venir
Question 1 of 3
You are at home, waiting for your friend. You text them: '¿A qué hora ___?'
Related Grammar
Want to understand the grammar behind this pair? Explore these lessons for a deep dive:
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is this the same as 'go' vs 'come' in English?
Almost! 'Venir' is very similar to 'to come'. However, 'llegar' is specifically 'to arrive'. The opposite of 'venir' (movement towards) is 'ir' (movement away). So the full picture is a triangle: ir (to go), venir (to come), and llegar (to arrive).
What about 'llegar a ser'? Does that mean 'to arrive to be'?
No, that's a great question! 'Llegar a ser' is a set phrase that means 'to become' or 'to get to be', usually after a long effort. For example, 'Llegó a ser el director de la empresa' means 'He became the company director'.
Can I just use 'ir' instead?
Sometimes. 'Voy a tu casa' (I'm going to your house) is very common and often replaces 'Vengo a tu casa'. However, 'ir' doesn't mean 'to arrive'. You can't say 'Yo fui a la fiesta a las 9' to mean 'I arrived at the party at 9'. You must use 'llegué'.