Two essential Spanish verbs for movement are llegar and venir. Llegar means “to arrive” and focuses on reaching a destination, while venir means “to come” and expresses movement toward the speaker. Understanding their different perspectives on motion will help you use them correctly.
- llegar = to arrive (focus on reaching destination)
- venir = to come (movement toward speaker)
Transported in Time and Space: Llegar
Llegar describes the moment someone or something reaches a place—the arrival. It’s used for people, vehicles, mail, opportunities, and even abstract moments like success.
- Core idea: arrival at a destination
- Can be used for concrete and abstract arrivals
Conjugation, Present Indicative: Llegar
| Subject | Llegar |
|---|---|
| Yo | llego |
| Tú | llegas |
| Él/Ella/Ud. | llega |
| Nosotros | llegamos |
| Vosotros | llegáis |
| Ellos/Ellas/Uds. | llegan |
Example:
- El tren llega a las ocho.
(The train arrives at eight.)
- Nosotros llegamos tarde.
(We arrive late.)
Llegar is correct when someone or something reaches a place, or when something arrives.
Moving Toward Me: Venir
Venir expresses motion toward the speaker’s location (or the location of the person considered the “center” in conversation). It focuses on the direction of the movement—coming in the direction of the speaker.
- Core idea: to come (toward the speaker)
- Used for invitations, suggestions, or when someone joins “here”
Conjugation, Present Indicative: Venir
| Subject | Venir |
|---|---|
| Yo | vengo |
| Tú | vienes |
| Él/Ella/Ud. | viene |
| Nosotros | venimos |
| Vosotros | venís |
| Ellos/Ellas/Uds. | vienen |
Example:
- ¿Vienes a la fiesta?
(Are you coming to the party [where I am]?)
- Mis amigos vienen de España.
(My friends come from Spain.)
Venir is used when someone moves toward you or when inviting someone to join you.
Core Distinction
| Verb | Core Meaning | Perspective | Sample Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Llegar | To arrive | Destination reached | Ellos llegan mañana. (They arrive tomorrow.) |
| Venir | To come | Toward the speaker | Ellos vienen ahora. (They’re coming now.) |
Conclusion
Llegar and venir are about different kinds of motion: llegar is about arriving (llegar), while venir is about coming toward the speaker (venir). Mastering their uses makes your Spanish more precise and natural.
- Llegar: arriving at a place, reaching a destination
- Venir: coming toward where the speaker is (or toward the group’s center)
Llegar focuses on arrival; venir focuses on moving toward the speaker.
Llegar is used when someone or something arrives at a destination.
Llegar is regular, but venir is irregular in the present tense.