What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of cuando (when), llegue (the subjunctive form of "to arrive"), a (to) and casa (home/house).
Which one should you use?
While cuando llegue a casa refers to a future event, the phrase cuando llego a casa uses the indicative mood and typically refers to a habitual action, such as saying "When I get home, I always rest."
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, it is common to use En cuanto llegue a casa to convey the meaning "as soon as I get home". In some Latin American countries, Cuando ya esté en casa is used to indicate a sense of certainty or the completion of arrival.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase uses the subjunctive mood (llegue) because it refers to a future event that has not yet happened.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use the indicative llego instead of the subjunctive llegue when planning for a future arrival.
Did you know?
- While casa refers to a home, the Spanish word for 'household' or 'home life' is often hogar, which specifically refers to the 'hearth' or fireplace.
- Although casa is used for home, Spanish uses the word domicilio for a 'registered address', a distinction that often confuses English speakers when filling out official forms.
- In Spanish, the word casa can be used to describe a business or an establishment, such as casa de comidas, which is similar to the English use of 'house' in 'fashion house'.
Examples in context
- Comeré cuando llegue a casa.I'll eat lunch when I get home.This sentence shows how to use cuando llegue a casa to talk about eating lunch in the future.Tatoeba #1831953 by Shishir, translation #1830564 by CK
- Hablemos de esto cuando llegue a casa.Let's talk about this when I get home.This sentence shows how to use cuando llegue a casa to suggest a future conversation.Tatoeba #5634098 by albrusgher, translation #2007264 by CK
- Te enviaré el enlace cuando llegue a casa.I'll send you the link when I get home.This sentence shows how to use cuando llegue a casa when promising to send a link in the future.Tatoeba #10095074 by manufrutos, translation #10094816 by ddnktr
- Te llamaré cuando llegue a casa.I will call you when I get home.
- Comeré algo al llegar a casa.I'll eat something when I get home.
- Te enviaré el mensaje cuando esté en casa.I'll send you the message once I am home.
- Le enviaré el informe cuando llegue a mi hogar.I will send you the report when I get home.
- Tomaré una decisión al llegar a mi domicilio.I will make a decision when I get home.
- Lo discutiremos una vez en casa.We will discuss it when I get home.
- Te llamaré en cuanto llegue a casa.I will call you as soon as I get home.
- Te contaré todo cuando ya esté en casa.I will tell you everything when I am already home.
- 6 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sofía is leaving work and talking to Javier on the phone.
- SofíaYa voy saliendo, Javier.I'm leaving now, Javier.
- Javier¿Me llamas más tarde?Will you call me later?
- SofíaSí, te llamo cuando llegue a casa.Yes, I'll call you when I get home.
- JavierEstá bien, hablamos luego.All right, we'll talk later.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
