Inklingo

How to Say "might arrive" in Spanish

The Spanish word formight arriveis llegaraB2 level. This is a very common word in everyday Spanish.

English → SpanishB2
verbB2
Expressing past uncertainty
A brightly colored storybook illustration showing a traveler who has just completed a journey. The traveler is standing directly at the threshold of a large, welcoming wooden door, signifying arrival.

Examples

Si él llegara tarde, perderíamos el tren.

If he were to arrive late, we would miss the train.

Yo no creía que el paquete llegara antes del lunes.

I didn't believe that the package would arrive before Monday.

Ojalá llegara el dinero pronto para pagar las cuentas.

I wish the money would arrive soon to pay the bills.

The 'What If' Tense

The form 'llegara' is used for actions that are doubtful, wished for, or purely hypothetical, especially when talking about the past or setting up complex 'if... then' scenarios.

Two Forms for the Same Job

Spanish has two ways to say this tense: 'llegara' and 'llegase'. They mean exactly the same thing, though 'llegara' is much more common in daily speech in most regions.

Confusing Past Subjunctive and Conditional

Mistake:Si él llegaría tarde, perderíamos el tren. (Mixing conditional and subjunctive)

Correction: Si él llegara tarde, perderíamos el tren. (The 'if' clause needs the special subjunctive form.)

Learn Spanish with Inklingo

Interactive stories, personalized learning, and more.