If you want to say the word “to” in Spanish, your options will depend on how you intend to use it. Typically, “to” translates as a, yet there are other ways to say “to,” including hasta, hacia, para, and even no translation at all.
Mastering the ins and outs of “to” in Spanish can seem tricky, but it comes naturally with time. With Rosetta Stone’s immersive approach, you’ll learn the language, not just the words. So whether you want to ir a la playa (go to the beach) or caminar hasta los confines del mundo (walk to the ends of the earth), translating “to” can become second nature and make your Spanish feel more effortless.
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Using a for ‘to’ in Spanish
While a is a small word, it packs a lot of punch. This important Spanish preposition is the most common translation of “to” in Spanish and has a wide range of uses.
A is frequently used with the irregular verb ir (to go) to talk about destinations, movement, or direction in Spanish. For example:
- Voy a España. = I’m going to Spain.
- Los estudiantes caminaron a la escuela. = The students walked to school.
- Gira a la derecha. = Turn to the right.
Other ways to say ‘to’ in Spanish
There are many other ways to translate “to” depending on the context of your sentence.
Hasta
Hasta in Spanish typically means “to” in the sense of “until” a certain destination.
- Caminamos hasta el río. = We walked to the river.
Hacia
Hacia is also used to indicate movement or direction, specifically toward something.
- El perro corrió hacia su dueño. = The dog ran to me.
Menos
When stating a time before the hour, you’ll translate “to” as menos, indicating minutes until the next hour.
- Son las seis menos cuarto. = It is a quarter to six.
Para
While it’s primarily used as “for,” para means “to” when used before an infinitive to express a purpose.
- Trabajo para ganar dinero. = I work to earn money.
Para is a complex preposition with many uses beyond “to”: Para can mean “for, to, of, by, at, or toward.”
How to use ‘to’ with Spanish infinitives
In Spanish, infinitives like estudiar (to study) and estar (to be) inherently carry the “to” meaning within the verb, so they don’t require the use of a preposition. For example:
- Ella necesita estudiar. = She needs to study.
- Yo quiero estar contigo. = I want to be with you.
However, this can vary depending on the specific infinitive verb phrase.
Infinitive verb phrases that use a for ‘to’
Even though infinitives in Spanish carry the “to” meaning, some infinitive constructions require the preposition a to link the main verb with a following infinitive. One of the most common examples is using “go” in Spanish to express future plans, but there are several other frequently used verbs that follow this pattern. For example:
- Voy a comer. = I’m going to eat.
- Empezó a nevar. = It started to snow.
- Quiero aprender a cocinar. = I want to learn to cook.
- Comenzó a escribir una novela. = He began to write a novel.
Infinitive verb phrases that use other translations of ‘to’
Other infinitive verb phrases require the use of another preposition to express “to,” such as:
- Tenemos que limpiar la cocina. = We have to clean the kitchen.
- Tengo ganas de ir a un museo. = I want to go to a museum.
Translate ‘to’ in Spanish with confidence thanks to Rosetta Stone
While the most common translation of “to” in Spanish is the small but mighty preposition a, it’s crucial to recognize the other ways this concept can be expressed through words like hasta, hacia, and para, or with no translation at all when using infinitives like comer (to eat) and ir (to go) in Spanish.
Becoming comfortable with the different uses of “to” will significantly enhance your ability to communicate effectively in Spanish. By having guided conversations about everyday topics like daily routines and future plans with a Rosetta Stone tutor, these distinctions will feel natural, allowing you to express yourself with greater accuracy and confidence.
