llego
/yé-go/
I arrive
Use llego when you physically complete a journey, like arriving at a destination.
llego(verb)
I arrive
?Physical movement to a place
,I get
?When followed by 'to' (I get to the station)
I reach
?Literally reaching a physical point
📝 In Action
Siempre llego tarde a la reunión.
A1I always arrive late to the meeting.
¿A qué hora llego a tu casa?
A2What time do I get to your house?
Llego al final del camino y descanso.
A2I reach the end of the road and rest.
💡 Grammar Points
A Regular Verb
'Llegar' is a regular '-ar' verb, meaning it follows the most common conjugation pattern. 'Llego' is how you say 'I arrive' right now.
Spelling Change in Preterite
Even though it's regular, when talking about the past, the 'yo' form changes spelling to 'llegué' (I arrived) to keep the hard 'g' sound. This is a common pattern for '-gar' verbs.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'a' vs. 'en'
Mistake: "Llego en la casa."
Correction: Llego a la casa. (Use 'a' when talking about arriving *to* a specific destination.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Using 'Llegar' with Time
Use 'llegar' when you talk about the moment you reach a place. Use 'estar' when you talk about the state of being there ('Ya estoy aquí' - I am already here).
Llego can also be used metaphorically when you reach a goal or a certain limit.
llego(verb)
I reach
?Reaching a goal, limit, or conclusion
,I get to
?Figurative achievement
I amount to
?Figurative measure or sufficiency (e.g., 'no llego a fin de mes')
📝 In Action
Después de mucho pensar, llego a la conclusión de que tienes razón.
B1After much thought, I reach the conclusion that you are right.
Con este sueldo, no llego a fin de mes.
B2With this salary, I don't make it to the end of the month (I don't suffice/reach the end).
💡 Grammar Points
Abstract Use with 'A'
In its abstract sense, 'llegar' almost always pairs with the preposition 'a' (to) to indicate the destination of the thought process or the limit reached: 'llegar a una decisión'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Making it to the End
The phrase 'llegar a fin de mes' (to reach the end of the month) is a very common way to talk about financial sufficiency.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: llego
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'llego' in its figurative sense (reaching a conclusion, not a place)?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
How is 'llego' different from 'voy'?
'Llego' means 'I arrive' (the end point of the journey). 'Voy' (from 'ir') means 'I go' (the action of traveling). Example: 'Voy al cine, y llego a las 8.' (I go to the cinema, and I arrive at 8.)
Why do some people pronounce 'llego' with a 'y' sound and others with a 'j' sound?
The 'll' sound in Spanish varies by region. The standard sound is like the 'y' in 'yes' ('yé-go'), but in many parts of Latin America, especially Argentina and Uruguay, it is pronounced like the 'sh' in 'shoe' or the 'j' in 'jump' (a phenomenon called 'yeísmo').