aterrizar
“aterrizar” means “to land” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
to land
Also: to touch down
📝 In Action
El avión va a aterrizar en diez minutos.
A2The plane is going to land in ten minutes.
El piloto aterrizó la nave perfectamente a pesar del viento.
B1The pilot landed the craft perfectly despite the wind.
Vimos a un águila aterrizar en la cima de la montaña.
B1We saw an eagle land on the top of the mountain.
to end up (somewhere), to grasp reality
Also: to show up, to come down to earth
📝 In Action
Después de la crisis, mi hermano aterrizó en un pequeño pueblo de la costa.
B2After the crisis, my brother ended up (landed) in a small coastal town.
Ella necesita aterrizar a la realidad y dejar de gastar tanto dinero.
C1She needs to come down to earth (grasp reality) and stop spending so much money.
Finalmente, el equipo aterrizó la idea y la presentó a la gerencia.
C1Finally, the team grasped the idea and presented it to management.
Indicative
Present
Imperfect
Preterite
Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
Translate to Spanish
Words that translate to "aterrizar" in Spanish:
to land→✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: aterrizar
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'aterrizar' in its figurative sense?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Formed in Spanish by combining the noun *tierra* (earth/ground) with the prefix *a-* (to/towards) and the verb ending *-izar* (a suffix used to create verbs, meaning 'to make' or 'to convert into'). The word literally means 'to make something reach the ground.'
First recorded: 18th century (in the context of aviation)
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'aterrizar' only used for aircraft?
No, while it's most common for planes, you can also use it for birds, spacecraft, or even people making a jump. More importantly, it's frequently used metaphorically to mean 'to finally arrive' or 'to face reality.'
Does 'aterrizar' require a direct object?
It can be used both ways. It is often used without an object (intransitive): 'El avión aterrizó' (The plane landed). But it can also take an object if the subject is actively controlling the landing: 'El piloto aterrizó el avión' (The pilot landed the plane).