llega
/YEH-gah/
he/she/it arrives
The most common use of llega is 'he/she/it arrives' or 'you (formal) arrive.' Here, the traveler llega home.
llega(Verb)
he/she/it arrives
?Used for a person, object, or event reaching a destination.
,you arrive
?The formal way to say 'you arrive' (usted).
he/she/it gets here/there
?A more casual way to express arrival.
📝 In Action
El tren llega a las cinco de la tarde.
A1The train arrives at five in the afternoon.
Mi hermana llega mañana de su viaje.
A1My sister arrives tomorrow from her trip.
Disculpe, ¿usted llega ahora o está esperando a alguien?
A2Excuse me, are you arriving now or are you waiting for someone?
El paquete que esperabas por fin llega hoy.
B1The package you were waiting for finally arrives today.
💡 Grammar Points
Who is 'llega'?
This one form works for three different subjects: 'él' (he), 'ella' (she), and 'usted' (the formal 'you'). You know who is arriving based on the conversation.
Spelling Change Alert!
The verb 'llegar' is regular except for a small spelling change to keep the 'g' sound. In the past tense, 'yo llegué' uses 'gu' to keep the hard 'g' sound. The same happens in the present subjunctive ('llegue', 'llegues', etc.).
❌ Common Pitfalls
llegar vs. llevar
Mistake: "La pizza lleva en 20 minutos."
Correction: La pizza llega en 20 minutos. 'Llegar' is for arriving, while 'llevar' means to carry or to take. They sound similar but have very different meanings.
Arriving 'at' a place
Mistake: "Llega en la estación."
Correction: Llega a la estación. To say you arrive 'at' a place, you almost always use the preposition 'a'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Becoming Something Over Time
You can use 'llegar a ser' to say someone 'becomes' something, often after a lot of effort. For example, 'Él llega a ser el director de la empresa' (He becomes the company director).
When used as an informal command, ¡Llega! means 'Arrive!' or 'Get here!'
llega(Verb (Command Form))
arrive!
?An informal command given to one person ('tú').
get here!
?A more urgent or casual command.
📝 In Action
¡Llega a tiempo a la cita, por favor!
A2Arrive on time to the appointment, please!
Si quieres cenar, ¡llega antes de las ocho!
B1If you want to have dinner, get here before eight!
💡 Grammar Points
A Command for 'tú'
This form, 'llega', is the command you give to a friend, family member, or someone you would call 'tú'. It's the same spelling as the 'he/she arrives' form, so context is key!
⭐ Usage Tips
Spotting the Difference
How do you know if 'llega' is a statement or a command? Look for exclamation points or a commanding tone. If it's a question like '¿Cuándo llega?', it's a statement. If it's an order like '¡Llega ahora!', it's a command.
Llega can also mean 'it reaches' or 'it is enough,' often describing physical extent, like how far a skirt reaches.
llega(Verb)
it is enough
?Often used in the negative to say something is insufficient, like money or time.
it reaches
?Describing physical length or extent.
📝 In Action
El dinero no llega para comprar un coche nuevo.
B1The money isn't enough to buy a new car.
Con este esfuerzo, no llega para ganar el campeonato.
B2With this effort, it's not enough to win the championship.
La falda me llega hasta las rodillas.
B1The skirt reaches my knees.
💡 Grammar Points
Using with 'me', 'te', 'le'
This meaning is often paired with words like 'me', 'te', 'le' to show who is affected. 'No me llega el dinero' literally means 'The money doesn't arrive/reach to me'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Think 'Reach'
A good way to remember this meaning is to think of the word 'reach'. If the money can't 'reach' the end of the month, or a skirt 'reaches' your knees, you can use 'llegar'.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
preterite
imperfect
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: llega
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'llega' as a command?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if 'llega' means 'he arrives' or is a command?
Context is everything! If someone is talking about a third person ('Mi amigo llega...') it's a statement. If they are talking directly to you and giving an instruction, often with exclamation marks ('¡Llega temprano!'), it's a command.
Is there a difference between 'llega' and 'viene'?
'Llega' focuses on the endpoint, the arrival at a destination. 'El tren llega a Madrid.' (The train arrives in Madrid). 'Viene' focuses on the movement towards the speaker. 'Mi madre viene a mi casa.' (My mother is coming to my house). They can sometimes overlap, but 'llega' is about reaching the goal, while 'viene' is about the journey towards here.