tocan
/toh-kahn/
they play
They play musical instruments together.
tocan(verb)
they play
?musical instruments
you all play
?musical instruments (Latin America)
📝 In Action
Ellos tocan la guitarra en una banda.
A1They play the guitar in a band.
¿Ustedes tocan el piano?
A1Do you all play the piano?
💡 Grammar Points
Who is 'tocan' about?
Use 'tocan' when you are talking about a group of people (them) or speaking directly to a group of people (you all) in the present.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Music vs. Games
Mistake: "Using 'tocan' for playing sports or games."
Correction: Use 'juegan' for games/sports. Use 'tocan' only for musical instruments.
⭐ Usage Tips
Musical Context
You don't need to say 'they' (ellos) if it's already clear who you are talking about; 'tocan' by itself is enough!
They touch the surface of the ball.
📝 In Action
Por favor, no tocan las pinturas.
A2Please, you all don't touch the paintings.
Los niños tocan el perro con cuidado.
A1The children touch the dog carefully.
💡 Grammar Points
Direct Action
When 'tocan' means touch, the thing being touched usually comes right after the word.
⭐ Usage Tips
Museum Rules
In museums, you'll often see 'No tocar' (Do not touch). 'Tocan' would be used to describe people actually doing it.
They knock on the door.
📝 In Action
Tocan a la puerta.
A2Someone is knocking at the door (literally: 'They knock').
Ellos tocan el timbre.
A2They ring the doorbell.
💡 Grammar Points
The 'Someone' Rule
In Spanish, using 'tocan' (they knock) is the standard way to say 'someone is knocking' without specifying who it is.
⭐ Usage Tips
Prepositions
When knocking on a door, use 'a': 'Tocan a la puerta'. When ringing a bell, you don't need 'a': 'Tocan el timbre'.
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: tocan
Question 1 of 1
If you hear 'Tocan a la puerta', what is happening?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Can 'tocan' mean 'they play soccer'?
No. For sports and games, use 'juegan'. 'Tocan' is only for musical instruments or physical touch.
Is 'tocan' singular or plural?
It is plural. It refers to 'they' (ellos/ellas) or 'you all' (ustedes).