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tocan

toh-kahn/ˈtokan/

they play

Also: you all play
VerbA1regular (with a small spelling change in other forms) ar
A group of people sitting together and playing acoustic guitars.
gerundtocando
past Participletocado
infinitivetocar

📝 In Action

Ellos tocan la guitarra en una banda.

A1

They play the guitar in a band.

¿Ustedes tocan el piano?

A1

Do you all play the piano?

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • interpretan (they perform)

Common Collocations

  • tocan en vivo – they play live
  • tocan de oído – they play by ear

they touch

Also: they handle
VerbA1regular ar
Several hands reaching out to touch a large, smooth, colorful beach ball.
gerundtocando
past Participletocado
infinitivetocar

📝 In Action

Por favor, no tocan las pinturas.

A2

Please, you all don't touch the paintings.

Los niños tocan el perro con cuidado.

A1

The children touch the dog carefully.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • palpan (they feel/grope)

Antonyms

  • evitan (they avoid)

Common Collocations

  • no tocan nada – they don't touch anything

they knock

Also: they ring
VerbA2regular ar
Two hands knocking on a bright blue wooden door.
gerundtocando
past Participletocado
infinitivetocar

📝 In Action

Tocan a la puerta.

A2

Someone is knocking at the door (literally: 'They knock').

Ellos tocan el timbre.

A2

They ring the doorbell.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Common Collocations

  • tocan a la puerta – they knock at the door
  • tocan el timbre – they ring the bell

🔄 Conjugations

subjunctive

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedestocaran
yotocara
tútocaras
vosotrostocarais
nosotrostocáramos
él/ella/ustedtocara

present

ellos/ellas/ustedestoquen
yotoque
tútoques
vosotrostoquéis
nosotrostoquemos
él/ella/ustedtoque

indicative

preterite

ellos/ellas/ustedestocaron
yotoqué
tútocaste
vosotrostocasteis
nosotrostocamos
él/ella/ustedtocó

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedestocaban
yotocaba
tútocabas
vosotrostocabais
nosotrostocábamos
él/ella/ustedtocaba

present

ellos/ellas/ustedestocan
yotoco
tútocas
vosotrostocáis
nosotrostocamos
él/ella/ustedtoca
View All Tenses & Moods →

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "tocan" in Spanish:

they handle→they knock→they play→they ring→they touch→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: tocan

Question 1 of 1

If you hear 'Tocan a la puerta', what is happening?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
tocar(to touch/play) — Verb
música(music) — Noun
tocadiscos(record player) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
buscaneducan
📚 Etymology▼

From the Latin word 'toccare', which means to knock, strike, or hit.

First recorded: 12th century

Cognates (Related words)

Italian: toccareFrench: toucher

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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).