arribar
“arribar” means “to arrive” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
to arrive
Also: to reach
📝 In Action
El crucero arribó al puerto de Barcelona esta mañana.
B1The cruise ship arrived at the port of Barcelona this morning.
Muchos inmigrantes arriban a las costas buscando una vida mejor.
B2Many immigrants arrive at the coasts looking for a better life.
Espero que los suministros arriben a tiempo para la emergencia.
B2I hope the supplies arrive in time for the emergency.
to reach (an agreement/conclusion)
📝 In Action
Tras largas negociaciones, arribaron a un acuerdo de paz.
B2After long negotiations, they reached a peace agreement.
Es difícil arribar a una conclusión sin tener todos los datos.
C1It is difficult to reach a conclusion without having all the data.
Los científicos arribaron a un nuevo descubrimiento por accidente.
C1The scientists came upon a new discovery by accident.
Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Indicative
Preterite
Imperfect
Present
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: arribar
Question 1 of 3
Which of these is the most common use for 'arribar'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Latin 'adripāre', which combines 'ad-' (to) and 'ripa' (shore/bank). Literally, it means 'to come to the shore'.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'arribar' the same as 'llegar'?
Yes, but 'arribar' is more formal and often used for maritime/air travel or abstract goals like agreements. 'Llegar' is used for everyday situations like arriving home.
Does 'arribar' mean 'to go up'?
No. While 'arriba' means 'up', the verb 'arribar' strictly means to arrive. To say 'to go up', you should use 'subir'.
Can I use 'arribar' for people?
Yes, but it sounds very formal or poetic. In common speech, use 'llegar' for people.