alcanza
/ahl-KAHN-sah/
reaches
When referring to physical movement, "alcanza" means 'reaches'. Here, the child reaches for the apple.
alcanza(Verb)
reaches
?3rd person singular present tense
,gets to
?arriving at a location
is within reach
?physical proximity
📝 In Action
Ella siempre alcanza los libros de la estantería alta.
A2She always reaches the books on the high shelf.
¿Alcanza usted a ver el cartel desde aquí?
B1Can you (formal) reach/manage to see the sign from here?
¡Alcanza la pelota!
A1Reach for the ball! (Informal command)
💡 Grammar Points
Verbs Ending in -ZAR
The verb alcanzar is regular, but requires a spelling change from 'z' to 'c' when the next letter is 'e' (e.g., in the 'yo' preterite form: alcancé, or the entire present subjunctive).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Reaching vs. Arriving
Mistake: "Using 'alcanzar' when you just mean 'to arrive' at a place. For simple arrival, use 'llegar.'"
Correction: Use 'llegar' for 'He arrives at the station' (Él llega a la estación). Use 'alcanzar' for 'He reaches for the door handle' (Él alcanza la manija).
⭐ Usage Tips
The 'Tú' Command
The form 'alcanza' is also the informal command 'reach!' (tú imperative), which is easy to remember because it looks exactly like the 'él/ella/usted' present tense form.
"Alcanza" means 'achieves' when referring to reaching a goal or status.
alcanza(Verb)
achieves
?reaching a goal or status
,attains
?reaching a high level
catches up with
?in a race or competition
📝 In Action
Si estudia mucho, alcanza el nivel B2 este año.
B1If he studies hard, he achieves the B2 level this year.
Ella alcanza una gran reputación en su campo.
B2She attains a great reputation in her field.
⭐ Usage Tips
Use with Goals
This meaning is often paired with words like 'meta' (goal), 'éxito' (success), or 'nivel' (level) when discussing personal or professional progress.
When discussing sufficiency of resources, "alcanza" means 'is enough'. The coins are enough to fill the box.
alcanza(Verb)
is enough
?sufficiency of resources
,suffices
?formal sufficiency
will go far
?money or provisions
📝 In Action
El presupuesto no alcanza para comprar un coche nuevo.
B2The budget is not enough to buy a new car.
¿Con este tiempo, alcanza para terminar el trabajo?
C1With this amount of time, is it enough to finish the work?
💡 Grammar Points
Impersonal Use
This meaning is often used with 'no' and a non-human subject (like 'el dinero' or 'el tiempo'). It is typically used in the third person singular ('alcanza').
⭐ Usage Tips
Talking About Money
A very common phrase is 'No me alcanza' ('It's not enough for me'), meaning the money or resource doesn't cover your needs.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: alcanza
Question 1 of 2
Which meaning of 'alcanza' is used in the sentence: 'El cable no alcanza el enchufe.'
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'alcanza' the only way to say 'he reaches'?
'Alcanza' is the standard way to say 'he/she/it reaches' or 'you (formal) reach' in the present tense. It comes from the verb *alcanzar*.
How do I know if 'alcanza' means 'to reach' or 'to be enough'?
You can usually tell by the subject. If the subject is a person, it usually means 'to reach' or 'to achieve.' If the subject is money, time, or a resource, it almost always means 'to be enough' (especially when used with 'no').