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a

aha

to, towards

Also: at
A small red bird flying in the air, clearly moving toward a large green tree on the horizon.

📝 In Action

Voy a la tienda.

A1

I am going to the store.

Llegamos a Madrid ayer.

A1

We arrived in Madrid yesterday.

El niño se acercó a su madre.

A2

The boy approached his mother.

Word Connections

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • ir a – to go to
  • venir a – to come to
  • llegar a – to arrive at/in

(none - structural)

Also: to
A young woman waving and smiling toward a man who is standing a short distance away, emphasizing the direct interaction between two people.

📝 In Action

Vi a mi hermana en el mercado.

A1

I saw my sister at the market. (Sister is the direct object, but because she is a person, 'a' is required.)

Quiero mucho a mi perro.

A2

I love my dog a lot. (Used for beloved pets, too.)

El profesor ayudó a los estudiantes.

A1

The professor helped the students.

Word Connections

Common Collocations

  • ver a – to see (a person)
  • conocer a – to know/meet (a person)
  • amar a – to love (a person)

at, on

Also: in accordance with, by
A bright yellow sun peeking over the top of a blue mountain range during sunrise, signifying a specific moment in time.

📝 In Action

La reunión es a las tres.

A1

The meeting is at three o'clock.

Lo hizo a mano.

A2

He did it by hand.

Cociné el pollo a la parrilla.

B1

I cooked the chicken on the grill.

Word Connections

Common Collocations

  • a tiempo – on time
  • a pie – on foot
  • a la derecha – to the right

Idioms & Expressions

  • a lo mejor – maybe, perhaps
  • a propósito – on purpose

🔀 Commonly Confused With

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "a" in Spanish:

at→by→on→to→towards→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: a

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence correctly uses the 'Personal A'?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

This tiny but mighty word comes directly from the Latin preposition *ad*, which meant 'to' or 'toward'. This root gave Spanish its core sense of direction and destination.

First recorded: Old Spanish (around 10th century)

Cognates (Related words)

Italian: aFrench: à

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Frequently Asked Questions

How is 'a' different from 'en'?

'A' generally implies movement toward a destination ('Voy a la casa' - I am going to the house). 'En' implies being inside or on top of a place ('Estoy en la casa' - I am in the house). They are opposites in this sense.

When do I use 'a' for time vs. 'en' for time?

Use 'a' for specific clock times ('a las cinco'). Use 'en' for months, years, seasons, or general time periods ('en julio', 'en verano').