a
/a/
In Spanish, 'to' can be translated as a or 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 movement in the direction of or arriving at a destination. You can also use the structure ir a + infinitive to express future actions. While a indicates direction, the related word para is used to express purpose or 'in order to'.
Which one should you use?
a implies arriving at a destination, whereas hacia only implies movement in the direction of a destination. Additionally, use a for direction, while para is used for purpose.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
In Spanish, a is used as a 'personal a' when the direct object of a verb is a specific person or pet.
How do you pronounce it?
/a/
Did you know?
- The word hacia actually has its roots in the Latin word for 'face', specifically from the phrase faciem ad, meaning 'facing towards'.
- In Spanish, the personal a can be used for animals if the owner considers the pet a member of the family with a distinct personality.
- The word a shares a common ancestor with the English word 'at', as both trace back to the Proto-Indo-European root *h₂éd.
Examples in context
- Ven a mi casa.Come to my house.This sentence shows how to use a for a destination.Tatoeba #580941 by Shishir, translation #250566 by CK
- Él fue a Nara.He went to Nara.This sentence uses a to indicate a destination.Tatoeba #817689 by Shishir, translation #288256 by CK
- Me voy a casa.I'm going to my place.This sentence demonstrates the use of a with a destination.Tatoeba #989207 by Shishir, translation #9091544 by CK
- El profesor habló a los estudiantes.The professor spoke to the students.
- Vine a visitar a tu abuela.I came to visit your grandmother.
- Voy para el trabajo.I'm going to work.
- Este regalo es para ti.This gift is for you.
- Me gusta ir a la playa.I like to go to the beach.
- Vamos pa' casa.Let's go to the house.
- Mañana voy a comer sushi.Tomorrow I'm going to eat sushi.
- Llamé a Roberto esta mañana.I called Roberto this morning.
- ¿Qué dijiste a tu mamá?What did you say to your mom?
- Voy pa' la fiesta.I'm going to the party.
- Le regalaré el libro a mi hermano.I will give the book to my brother.
- 11618 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Alejandro and Elena are planning their afternoon walk.
- Alejandro¿Quieres ir a la biblioteca?Do you want to go to the library?
- ElenaSí, voy a la biblioteca ahora mismo.Yes, I am going to the library right now.
- AlejandroPerfecto, yo también voy a la biblioteca.Perfect, I am going to the library too.
- Elena¡Entonces nos vemos allí!Then I will see you there!
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.
