a
to
A versatile preposition built around the core idea of "direction" or "destination"
Encoding Strategies:
repetition
The most useful translation for a is to, because nearly every way it's used connects back to a single idea: one thing is pointed or directed toward another0.
a
to (location)
Pointing toward a place or destination.
Voy a MadridI'm going to Madrid
Estos libros van dirigidos a tu padreThese books are addressed to your father
at, in (time)
Pointing toward a moment in time, by directing attention to a specific point on the clock or calendar.
Saldremos a las ochoWe'll leave at eight
Lo vi a la mañanaI saw him in the morning
to (purpose)
Pointing toward a purpose or goal, by directing the action at an outcome.
Vine a saludarteI came to say hello to you
Empezó a correrHe started to run
to (personal "a")
When an action is directed at a specific person, 'a' marks them as the target. Otherwise, it can be unclear who is doing the action and who is receiving it.
Llama a JuanHe calls Juan
Llama JuanJuan calls (if you drop the 'a', the meaning completely changes)
on, by, over (manner / means)
Pointing toward the method or manner, to show how something is done or the means by which it happens.
Viajamos a caballoWe traveled on horseback
Lo hizo a manoShe did it by hand
Cocido a fuego lentoCooked over low heat
at, per (rate / price)
Pointing toward a rate or price.
Los tomates están a dos euros el kiloTomatoes are at two euros a kilo
Trabajo ocho horas al díaI work eight hours per day
(command)
Pointing toward an action as a command, by directing someone to do something immediately.
¡A comer!Time to eat!
¡A la cama!Off to bed!
de ... a
from ... to (span)
Marks the starting and ending points of a span. The 'de' marks the source, and 'a' marks where it's directed toward.
El concierto es de las ocho a las diezThe concert is from eight to ten
De lunes a viernesFrom Monday to Friday