Inklingo

How to Say "we arrived" in Spanish

English → Spanish

llegamos

lyeh-GAH-mos/ʎeˈɣa.mos/

VerbA1General
Use this when the primary focus is the completion of a journey or reaching a destination.
Two small, successful hikers standing triumphantly on the peak of a green, rolling hill, looking down at the winding path they completed, symbolizing their arrival being finished.

Examples

Ayer llegamos de nuestro viaje a Colombia.

Yesterday we arrived from our trip to Colombia.

¡Llegamos justo a tiempo para ver el final de la película!

We arrived just in time to see the end of the movie!

Tense Identification

Since 'llegamos' is used for both 'we arrive' (present) and 'we arrived' (past), context is key. Look for past time words like 'ayer' (yesterday), 'la semana pasada' (last week), or 'en ese momento' (at that moment).

Incorrect Preterite 'Yo' Form

Mistake: “When conjugating the 'yo' form of 'llegar' in the past, students sometimes write *llege*.”

Correction: The correct past tense 'I arrived' is *llegué* (with -gu-) to keep the hard 'g' sound. However, 'llegamos' for 'we arrived' follows the regular pattern.

vinimos

bee-NEE-mohs/biˈnimos/

VerbA1General
Use this when the arrival is part of a broader sense of coming or movement towards a place, often implying a purpose.
An illustration depicting three stylized characters standing together just inside the open doorway of a brightly colored, welcoming house, suggesting they have just arrived.

Examples

Vinimos a la reunión a las tres en punto.

We came to the meeting at three o'clock sharp.

Todos los veranos vinimos a esta playa.

Every summer we come to this beach. (Present tense usage)

Si vinimos de tan lejos, tenemos que aprovechar el tiempo.

Since we came from so far away, we have to make the most of the time.

Action Completed in the Past

In its most common use, 'vinimos' means 'we came' or 'we arrived.' It describes an action that started and finished completely at a specific moment in the past.

A Dual-Purpose Form

Be careful! 'Vinimos' is the 'we' form in both the simple past (Preterite) and the present tense (Present Indicative). You must look at the context or time words (like 'yesterday' or 'always') to know which one is intended.

Confusing Past and Imperfect

Mistake: “Using 'veníamos' when referring to a single, finished arrival ('We came yesterday').”

Correction: Use 'vinimos' (simple past) for single, completed events: 'Vinimos tarde' (We came late). Use 'veníamos' (imperfect) only for habitual or ongoing past actions: 'Siempre veníamos aquí' (We always used to come here).

Focusing on 'arrival' vs. 'coming'

Learners often confuse 'llegamos' and 'vinimos' by assuming 'vinimos' is always a direct translation for 'we arrived'. Remember that 'vinimos' emphasizes the act of 'coming' to a place, often with a sense of purpose, while 'llegamos' focuses solely on the completion of the journey.

Related Translations

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