hacia

/ah-see-ah/

toward

Hacia shows the general direction of movement, like walking toward the lighthouse.

hacia(Preposition)

toward?indicating direction of movement

Also:to?less specific, can overlap with 'a'

📝 In Action

Caminamos hacia la playa.

We are walking toward the beach.

Mira hacia arriba.

Look upwards.

El coche se dirige hacia el norte.

The car is heading toward the north.

Word Connections

Synonyms

a (to)
para (for/to (destination))

Antonyms

desde (from)

Common Collocations

ir hacia – to go toward
mirar hacia – to look toward
correr hacia – to run toward

💡 Grammar Points

Hacia vs. A

'Hacia' means 'toward' and talks about the general direction of movement. 'A' means 'to' and usually focuses on the final destination. 'Voy hacia la tienda' means you're going in the store's direction, while 'Voy a la tienda' means the store is your goal.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Confusing Direction with an End Point

Mistake: "Conduje hacia la ciudad y paré."

Correction: This isn't wrong, but if the city was your final limit, it's clearer to use 'hasta'. 'Conduje hasta la ciudad' (I drove as far as the city). Use 'hacia' for the direction, and 'hasta' for the boundary.

⭐ Usage Tips

Showing General Direction

Use 'hacia' when you want to show you're moving in the general direction of something, even if it's not your final stop. It’s a bit less exact than 'a', which makes it very useful.

A stylized representation of a warm afternoon scene where several small, colorful shapes are clustered loosely around a large, glowing orange circle representing the afternoon sun.

Hacia can mean 'around' a time, showing an approximate moment represented by the cluster near the stylized sun.

hacia(Preposition)

around?approximate time

Also:about?approximate time,toward?e.g., toward the end of the year

📝 In Action

Llegaré hacia las tres de la tarde.

I will arrive around three in the afternoon.

Terminaremos el proyecto hacia finales de mes.

We will finish the project toward the end of the month.

La tormenta comenzó hacia la medianoche.

The storm began around midnight.

Word Connections

Synonyms

alrededor de (around)
sobre (about/around (time))

Antonyms

exactamente a las (exactly at)

Common Collocations

hacia las dos – around two o'clock
hacia el final – toward the end
hacia mediados de – around the middle of

💡 Grammar Points

Talking About 'Around a Time'

When you don't know the exact time, 'hacia' is a great way to say 'around' or 'about'. For example, 'hacia las cinco' means 'around five o'clock'.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Using for Exact Times

Mistake: "La clase empieza hacia las nueve."

Correction: If the class starts exactly at nine, you should use 'a': 'La clase empieza a las nueve'. Only use 'hacia' when the time is an approximation or estimate.

⭐ Usage Tips

Sound More Natural

Instead of always saying 'más o menos a las tres' (more or less at three), using 'hacia las tres' will make you sound more like a native speaker when giving an estimate.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: hacia

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence best translates to 'I'll call you around noon'?

📚 More Resources

Words that Rhyme with hacia

gracia

farmacia

democracia

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between 'hacia' and 'a'?

Think of 'hacia' as 'toward' and 'a' as 'to'. 'Hacia' focuses on the path or direction of movement (Caminamos hacia el río - We walk toward the river). 'A' focuses on the final destination (Vamos al río - We are going to the river).

Can I use 'hacia' for feelings?

Yes, absolutely! It's a slightly more advanced use. You can talk about feelings 'toward' someone or something. For example, 'Siento un gran respeto hacia mis abuelos' means 'I feel great respect toward my grandparents'.

Is there a difference in pronunciation between Spain and Latin America?

Yes. In most of Spain, the 'c' in 'hacia' makes a 'th' sound (/ˈaθja/). In Latin America and some parts of Spain, it makes an 's' sound (/ˈasja/). Both are perfectly correct, just regional differences.