a
/a/
The Spanish word for "to" is a. Wiktionary also lists hacia.
Meaning: in the direction of, and arriving at (prep)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| a | /a/ |
| hacia | /ˈaθja/ /ˈasja/ |
The preposition a is used to indicate the destination of a movement, such as going to a specific place or city.
Which one should you use?
While a implies arriving at a destination, hacia emphasizes the direction or movement toward a destination without necessarily reaching it. Additionally, when expressing purpose, use para instead of a to mean "in order to".
Is it said differently in some regions?
In certain Latin American countries, particularly in the Caribbean, the word pa (short for 'para') may also be used.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
When a is used with a direct object that is a person, it is often used to indicate the recipient of an action (the 'personal a').
How do you pronounce it?
/a/
Did you know?
- The word hacia comes from the Latin phrase faciem ad, meaning 'facing towards'.
- The phrase a pie means 'on foot', but it literally translates to 'to foot'.
- In some regions, a is used in expressions of time, like a las cinco, which means 'at five' rather than 'to five'.
Examples in context
- Ven a mi casa.Come to my house.This sentence shows how to use a to indicate a destination.Tatoeba #580941 by Shishir, translation #250566 by CK
- Él fue a Nara.He went to Nara.This sentence demonstrates the use of a when referring to a specific location.Tatoeba #817689 by Shishir, translation #288256 by CK
- Me voy a casa.I'm going to my place.This sentence illustrates the use of a in the context of going home.Tatoeba #989207 by Shishir, translation #9091544 by CK
- Quiero enviar esta carta a mi abuela.I want to send this letter to my grandmother.
- El paquete será entregado a la oficina principal.The package will be delivered to the main office.
- Necesito ir a la tienda.I need to go to the store.
- Voy a casa de mi amigo.I'm going to my friend's house.
- Voy a la fiesta esta noche.I'm going to the party tonight.
- El libro pertenece a María.The book belongs to María.
- 11618 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Mateo and Sofía are deciding where to walk in the park.
- Mateo¿Vas a la plaza, Sofía?Are you going to the plaza, Sofía?
- SofíaNo, voy a la cafetería.No, I am going to the cafe.
- MateoEstá bien, yo voy a la estación.Okay, I am going to the station.
- Sofía¡Nos vemos luego, Mateo!See you later, Mateo!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “to” translations and entries a, hacia, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries a, hacia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
