llegar a casa
/ʝeɡaɾ a kasa/from spelling rules
The English phrase 'get home' is translated into Spanish as llegar a casa.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the verb llegar (to arrive) and the prepositional phrase a casa (to home/at home).
How does it change in a sentence?
While English uses the verb 'get' to express this concept, Spanish uses the verb llegar (to arrive) to express the idea of reaching a destination like home.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly add the definite article 'la' to say llegar a la casa (get to the house). However, when speaking about one's own home in a general sense, llegar a casa is the standard idiomatic way to say 'get home'.
Did you know?
- The verb llegar comes from the Latin word applicāre, which specifically meant 'to land' or 'to reach the coast'.
- In some Latin American countries, people might say llegar al hogar to evoke a more emotional or cozy sense of 'hearth and home'.
- In many Spanish dialects, the 'll' in llegar can sound like a 'y', making the word sound more like 'ye-gar'.
Examples in context
- ¿Cuándo va a llegar a casa?When will she get home?Tatoeba #9556558 by Shishir, translation #2103906 by cathrynm
- Tenían prisa por llegar a casa.They were in a hurry to get home.Tatoeba #910540 by Shishir, translation #802345 by Source_VOA
- La única pregunta ahora es ¿cómo vamos a llegar a casa?The only question now is how we're going to get home.Tatoeba #1901452 by marcelostockle, translation #1898207 by CK
- Después de la reunión, es hora de regresar a casa.After the meeting, it is time to return home.
- 9 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Alejandro and Sofía are talking on the phone in the evening.
- AlejandroHola Sofía, ¿ya vas a llegar a casa?Hello Sofía, are you about to get home?
- SofíaNo, todavía me falta mucho para llegar a casa.No, I still have a long way to go to get home.
- AlejandroTen cuidado en el camino.Be careful on the way.
- SofíaGracias, Alejandro, te llamo luego.Thanks, Alejandro, I'll call you later.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries a, casa, llegar, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
