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 Madrid = I'm going to Madrid
- Estos libros van dirigidos a tu padre = These 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 ocho = We'll leave at eight
- Lo vi a la mañana = I saw him in the morning
to (purpose)
Pointing toward a purpose or goal, by directing the action at an outcome.
- Vine a saludarte = I came to say hello to you
- Empezó a correr = He 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 Juan = He calls Juan
- Llama Juan = Juan 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 caballo = We traveled on horseback
- Lo hizo a mano = She did it by hand
- Cocido a fuego lento = Cooked over low heat
at, per (rate / price)
Pointing toward a rate or price.
- Los tomates están a dos euros el kilo = Tomatoes are at two euros a kilo
- Trabajo ocho horas al día = I 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 diez = The concert is from eight to ten
- De lunes a viernes = From Monday to Friday