How to Say "to arrive" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “to arrive” is “llegar” — use 'llegar' for any general instance of reaching a destination, whether it's a person, vehicle, or event.
llegar
yeh-GARʝeˈɣaɾ
Examples
El tren llega a las cinco.
The train arrives at five.
Normalmente llego a casa a las seis de la tarde.
I normally get home at six in the evening.
Mis padres llegaron ayer de sus vacaciones.
My parents arrived yesterday from their vacation.
The 'gué' Spelling Change
To keep the 'g' sound hard (like in 'go'), the 'yo' form in the simple past (preterite) changes from 'g' to 'gu'. So, 'llegar' becomes 'llegué' (I arrived). The same happens in the present subjunctive ('llegue').
Use 'a' for Destinations
When you say you arrive at a place, use the word 'a'. For example, 'Llego a la estación' (I arrive at the station).
'llegar' vs. 'venir'
Mistake: “Using 'llegar' when you mean movement towards the speaker.”
Correction: 'Llegar' focuses on the destination ('Llego a tu casa a las 8' - I'll get to your house at 8). 'Venir' means 'to come' towards the person speaking ('¿Vienes a mi casa a las 8?' - Are you coming to my house at 8?).
venir
beh-NEERbeˈniɾ
Examples
El manual de instrucciones viene en la caja.
The instruction manual comes in the box.
El autobús viene cada diez minutos.
The bus comes every ten minutes.
Esa noticia vino en el periódico de ayer.
That news appeared in yesterday's newspaper.
arribar
ah-rree-BARa.riˈβaɾ
Examples
El crucero arribó al puerto de Barcelona esta mañana.
The cruise ship arrived at the port of Barcelona this morning.
Muchos inmigrantes arriban a las costas buscando una vida mejor.
Many immigrants arrive at the coasts looking for a better life.
Espero que los suministros arriben a tiempo para la emergencia.
I hope the supplies arrive in time for the emergency.
Using 'a' for Destinations
Just like 'llegar', when you talk about the place you are arriving at, you must use the word 'a' (to). For example: 'Arribar a la ciudad'.
Arribar vs. Arriba
Mistake: “Using 'arribar' when you mean 'up' (arriba).”
Correction: Use 'arriba' for location (upstairs) and 'arribar' only as a verb for arriving. For example, 'Está arriba' (It's upstairs), not 'Está arribar'.
General vs. Specific Arrival
Related Translations
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