tocó
/toh-KOH/
he/she/it touched
El niño tocó la flor (The boy touched the flower).
tocó(Verb Conjugation)
he/she/it touched
?past physical contact
,you touched (formal)
?past physical contact
he/she felt
?past action of feeling with hands
📝 In Action
Ella tocó el cristal para ver si estaba caliente.
A1She touched the glass to see if it was hot.
El perro me tocó la mano con la nariz.
A2The dog touched my hand with its nose.
💡 Grammar Points
The 'c' to 'qu' Spelling Change
When conjugating verbs ending in -car (like 'tocar') in the simple past, the 'c' changes to 'qu' only in the 'yo' form (I) to keep the hard 'k' sound: 'yo toqué', but 'tú tocaste'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Use of the Simple Past (Preterite)
'Tocó' describes an action that happened once and was completed in the past, like a single, brief touch.
Ella tocó la guitarra (She played the guitar).
tocó(Verb Conjugation)
he/she played
?a musical instrument
he/she performed
?music
📝 In Action
Mi tío tocó el piano en la fiesta de Navidad.
A2My uncle played the piano at the Christmas party.
El DJ tocó música increíble toda la noche.
B1The DJ played incredible music all night.
💡 Grammar Points
Playing Instruments vs. Sports
Remember to use 'tocar' only for musical instruments. For sports, use 'jugar': 'Tocó el violín' (He played the violin), but 'Jugó al fútbol' (He played soccer).
Ahora le tocó al conejo (Now it was the rabbit's turn).
tocó(Verb Conjugation)
it was his/her turn
?responsibility or sequence
he/she had to
?obligation or necessity
,he/she drew (the short straw)
?luck or fate
📝 In Action
Esta vez le tocó a Juan pagar la cena.
B1This time it was Juan's turn to pay for dinner. (Literally: This time it touched Juan to pay.)
Nos tocó esperar dos horas en la fila.
B2We had to wait two hours in line. (Literally: It touched us to wait.)
💡 Grammar Points
Expressing Obligation or Turn
When 'tocar' means 'to be one's turn' or 'to have to do something,' it usually follows the pattern of 'gustar' verbs: the person who has the turn is expressed using an indirect pronoun (me, te, le, nos, les).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing 'Tener que' and 'Tocar'
Mistake: "Usar 'Tuvo que lavar' para el turno."
Correction: Use 'Le tocó lavar' when you mean it was their assigned turn or rotation, not just general obligation ('Tuvo que lavar' means he/she was obligated to wash).
El cartero tocó a la puerta (The mailman knocked on the door).
tocó(Verb Conjugation)
he/she knocked
?on a door or window
the bell rang
?when referring to a bell/chime
📝 In Action
Tocó a la puerta tres veces antes de entrar.
A2He knocked on the door three times before entering.
La campana tocó a las ocho en punto.
B1The bell rang exactly at eight o'clock.
💡 Grammar Points
Using 'a' with the Door
When 'tocar' means to knock, it is typically followed by the preposition 'a' (at/to): 'tocó a la puerta'.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: tocó
Question 1 of 1
Which meaning of 'tocó' is used in the sentence: 'A mi hermana le tocó trabajar el domingo.'
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does 'tocó' sometimes mean 'he/she had to'?
This is a special, very common way to talk about turns or duties. It literally translates to 'it touched/fell to him/her.' It implies that the obligation came from an external source, like a rotation or a rule, rather than a personal desire.
How do I know if 'tocó' means 'touched' or 'played'?
The context usually makes it clear. If the sentence mentions a musical instrument (piano, guitarra, batería), it means 'played.' If it mentions a physical object (mano, mesa, pared), it means 'touched.'