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hacia

ah-see-ahˈasja

“hacia” means “toward” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

toward

Also: to
A small group of stylized people walking along a path directly heading toward a brightly lit lighthouse on a distant shore.

📝 In Action

Caminamos hacia la playa.

A1

We are walking toward the beach.

Mira hacia arriba.

A1

Look upwards.

El coche se dirige hacia el norte.

A2

The car is heading toward the north.

Word Connections

Synonyms

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

Antonyms

Common Collocations

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

around

Also: about, toward
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.

📝 In Action

Llegaré hacia las tres de la tarde.

A2

I will arrive around three in the afternoon.

Terminaremos el proyecto hacia finales de mes.

B1

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

La tormenta comenzó hacia la medianoche.

B1

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

🔀 Commonly Confused With

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "hacia" in Spanish:

around→to→toward→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: hacia

Question 1 of 2

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

📚 More Resources

🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

Comes from a combination of Old Spanish words: 'faze a', which meant 'face to' or 'facing'. Over many years, it smoothed out and combined to become the single word 'hacia'.

First recorded: 12th century

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: face aCatalan: faç a

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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.