Translation of Spanish word "a" to English
a
/a/
Meaning
particleA preposition indicating direction, destination, or purpose ('to', 'at'); also used before certain infinitives.
How to use
The word 'a' is a preposition used to indicate movement or direction towards something. It is often translated to 'to' or 'at' in English, but can also be used to indicate a purpose or a goal. In formal writing, it is commonly used to express a sense of direction, such as 'Voy a la tienda' (I'm going to the store). However, learners often confuse it with 'en', which can also mean 'in' or 'on', but is used in different grammatical contexts.
🇬🇧 English
to, at
Example
Tengo lugares a donde ir y gente que ver.
I have places to go and people to see.
¿Quién soy yo para criticar? Yo mismo he hecho cosas peores.
Who am I to criticize? I've done worse things myself.
Your personal vocabulary
🦊 Use this word in a live AI conversationCommon phrases
- a la izquierda— to the left
- a la derecha— to the right
- a través de— through
- a lo largo de— along
- a medida que— as
More People & Family words
This concept in other languages
📖 Related grammar
Frequency rank: #7 in Spanish
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Spanish word "a" mean?▼
The Spanish word "a" means "to, at" in English.
How do you pronounce the Spanish word "a"?▼
You can hear the correct audio pronunciation of the word "a" by clicking the play button next to the word at the top of this page.
Can I see an example sentence with "a"?▼
Yes, here is a practical example: "Tengo lugares a donde ir y gente que ver." (which translates as "I have places to go and people to see.").
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