llegan
/YAY-gahn/
they arrive
When people complete a journey, llegan (they arrive) at their destination.
llegan(Verb)
they arrive
?referring to people or objects
,you all arrive
?formal or Latin American address
they come
?when movement is toward the speaker
📝 In Action
Los trenes siempre llegan a tiempo.
A1The trains always arrive on time.
¿A qué hora llegan ustedes del viaje?
A2What time are you all arriving from the trip?
Dicen que llegan las cartas mañana.
A1They say the letters will arrive tomorrow.
💡 Grammar Points
The 'G' Sound Rule
Even though 'llegar' is a regular verb, it needs a spelling change in certain forms (like 'yo' in the past tense: 'llegué') to keep the hard 'g' sound consistent. If it were spelled 'llege,' it would sound like 'leh-heh'!
Present Tense Meaning
This form, 'llegan,' can mean 'they arrive' (right now) or 'they are arriving' (current action), or even 'they do arrive' (habitual action).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing 'llegar' and 'venir'
Mistake: "Using 'llegan' when you mean 'they come towards me' (use 'vienen')."
Correction: 'Llegar' means reaching a point, not necessarily movement toward the speaker. If the movement is toward you, use 'venir' ('vienen').
⭐ Usage Tips
Using Prepositions
Always use the preposition 'a' (to) to specify the destination: 'llegan a la ciudad' (they arrive at the city).
If a quantity reaches its maximum capacity, llegan (they reach) the limit.
llegan(Verb)
they reach
?a limit, number, or state
,they attain
?a goal or level
they amount to
?a specific quantity
,they extend
?physical or abstract limit
📝 In Action
Los precios llegan a un máximo histórico este mes.
B2Prices are reaching a historic high this month.
Si estudian mucho, llegan a la meta de ser bilingües.
B1If they study hard, they will reach the goal of being bilingual.
Las negociaciones llegan a un punto crítico.
B2The negotiations are reaching a critical point.
💡 Grammar Points
Figurative Use
In this abstract sense, 'llegar' still requires the preposition 'a' (to) before the target or goal, just like when talking about physical destinations.
⭐ Usage Tips
Reaching a Quantity
When talking about numbers or amounts, 'llegar' is perfect: 'Los costos llegan a cien dólares' (The costs reach one hundred dollars).
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: llegan
Question 1 of 2
Which of these sentences uses 'llegan' to mean 'reaching a goal' rather than physical arrival?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'llegan' and 'vienen'?
'Llegan' (from 'llegar') means 'they arrive' at a specific destination (focus is on the destination). 'Vienen' (from 'venir') means 'they come' (focus is on movement toward the speaker or the point of reference). Example: 'Llegan al aeropuerto' (They arrive at the airport). 'Vienen a mi casa' (They come to my house).
Is 'llegan' regular or irregular?
The verb 'llegar' is considered regular in most tenses. The only minor change is the spelling in the 'yo' preterite ('llegué') and the subjunctive forms ('llegue', 'lleguen') to make sure the 'g' keeps its hard sound.