toca
/TOH-kah/
touches
In Spanish, 'toca' means 'touches,' illustrating the physical act of contact.
toca(Verb)
touches
?He/she/it touches
,is touching
?Continuous action
feels (with hands)
?Physical sense
,knocks
?On a door
📝 In Action
Ella nunca toca la pared porque está recién pintada.
A1She never touches the wall because it's freshly painted.
¿Quién toca la puerta?
A2Who is knocking on the door?
Usted toca el tema con demasiada sensibilidad.
B1You (formal) approach the subject too sensitively.
💡 Grammar Points
Pronouncing the Hard 'K' Sound
The letter 'c' sounds like 'k' when followed by a, o, or u (tocar). However, if you need to use the 'k' sound before e or i, the spelling changes to 'qu' (e.g., toqué, toques).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing 'Tocar' with 'Sentir'
Mistake: "Using 'tocar' to express emotional feeling (e.g., 'Toco triste')."
Correction: Use 'sentir' for feelings ('Siento triste') and 'tocar' only for physical contact or playing music.
⭐ Usage Tips
The 'Tú' Command
'Toca' is also the informal command used to tell a friend to touch something or play music: '¡Toca esto!' (Touch this!)
When referring to music, 'toca' means 'plays' (an instrument).
📝 In Action
Mi hermano toca la guitarra muy bien.
A1My brother plays the guitar very well.
El DJ toca música en la fiesta.
A2The DJ plays music at the party.
💡 Grammar Points
Using the Article
In Spanish, when you say someone plays an instrument, you must use the definite article (el, la) before the instrument: 'toca la trompeta'.
The phrase 'toca' can mean 'it's the turn of,' indicating a sequence or responsibility.
toca(Verb)
it's the turn of
?Referring to responsibility or sequence
it's necessary
?Referring to obligation
,concerns
?Refers to a relationship or connection
📝 In Action
Me toca pagar la cena esta noche.
B1It's my turn to pay for dinner tonight. (Literally: It touches me to pay)
A él no le toca decidir eso.
B2It's not up to him to decide that.
Esa canción no toca los temas que me interesan.
C1That song doesn't deal with the topics that interest me.
💡 Grammar Points
The 'Turn' Construction
When used to mean 'whose turn it is,' the sentence structure is similar to 'gustar.' You use an indirect object pronoun (me, te, le) followed by 'toca' to indicate who has the responsibility.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'toca' instead of 'deber'
Mistake: "Using 'Toca estudiar' to mean 'I must study'."
Correction: While 'toca' implies necessity, it usually implies duty/turn. Use 'debo estudiar' (I must study) for personal obligation.
⭐ Usage Tips
Expressing Good Fortune
This meaning can also be used for good luck! If someone 'wins' the lottery, you say 'Le toca la lotería' (The lottery falls to them).
As a noun, 'toca' refers to a 'coif,' a type of traditional head covering.
toca(Noun)
coif
?Traditional stiff white head covering
,wimple
?Head cloth worn by some nuns
cap
?Medical or chef's head covering
📝 In Action
Las enfermeras usaban una toca blanca durante la operación.
B2The nurses wore a white cap during the operation.
La toca de la monja cubría su rostro casi por completo.
C1The nun's wimple covered her face almost completely.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: toca
Question 1 of 2
Which English word best captures the meaning of 'A quién le toca limpiar hoy'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
If 'toca' means 'touches' and 'plays,' how do I know which one is being used?
Context is key! If you see 'toca' followed by an instrument ('la guitarra,' 'el piano'), it means 'plays.' If it's followed by a physical object ('la mesa,' 'el botón'), it means 'touches' or 'presses.' If it’s used with 'le/me/te' (like 'me toca'), it means 'it’s my turn.'
Is the noun 'toca' (head covering) related to the verb 'tocar' (to touch)?
While the spellings are identical, the noun 'toca' often comes from a slightly different origin related to 'cap' or 'hood.' However, sometimes Spanish words with related actions (like 'touching' or 'covering') evolve to share a root, though the noun meaning is quite specialized today.