Six ways to use the Spanish verb 'tocar'
Today's Spanish word of the day is a common verb, which means 'to touch' but it also has many more meanings depending on how it's used.
Tocar la puerta means to knock on the door:
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Toca la puerta antes de entrar en su despacho.
Knock on the door before entering his office.
Tocar a su fin means to get to the end:
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El partido está tocando a su fin y tu equipo va perdiendo.
The game is getting to the end and your team is losing.
Tocar de cerca means to have a profound effect on somebody personally:
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El tema de la salud me toca muy de cerca, prefiero hablar de otra cosa.
Talking about health really touches a nerve, I prefer to talk about something else.
Tocar un instrumento means to play an instrument:
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En el colegio tocaba el piano.
At school I played the piano.
Tocar fondo means to hit rock bottom
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Ese día toqué fondo. Al día siguiente empecé a ir a Alcohólicos Anónimos
That day I hit rock bottom. The following day I started going to AA.
Tocar las narices means to annoy somebody:
-
No me toques las narices y vete de aquí.
Stop annoying me and go away.
This song is called 'Toca Toca!' Can you guess the meaning according to the context?
Pronunciation:
toh-kahr
Check out our other word of the day posts
This language article been contributed by LAE Madrid, the leading Spanish academy in Madrid. Accredited by the Insitituto Cervantes, it offers Spanish courses for all levels and also has Spanish classes for kids and families.
READ MORE: Eight ways to use the Spanish verb 'poner'
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Tocar la puerta means to knock on the door:
- Toca la puerta antes de entrar en su despacho.
Knock on the door before entering his office.
Tocar a su fin means to get to the end:
- El partido está tocando a su fin y tu equipo va perdiendo.
The game is getting to the end and your team is losing.
Tocar de cerca means to have a profound effect on somebody personally:
- El tema de la salud me toca muy de cerca, prefiero hablar de otra cosa.
Talking about health really touches a nerve, I prefer to talk about something else.
Tocar un instrumento means to play an instrument:
- En el colegio tocaba el piano.
At school I played the piano.
Tocar fondo means to hit rock bottom
- Ese día toqué fondo. Al día siguiente empecé a ir a Alcohólicos Anónimos
That day I hit rock bottom. The following day I started going to AA.
Tocar las narices means to annoy somebody:
- No me toques las narices y vete de aquí.
Stop annoying me and go away.
This song is called 'Toca Toca!' Can you guess the meaning according to the context?
Pronunciation:
toh-kahr
Check out our other word of the day posts
This language article been contributed by LAE Madrid, the leading Spanish academy in Madrid. Accredited by the Insitituto Cervantes, it offers Spanish courses for all levels and also has Spanish classes for kids and families.
READ MORE: Eight ways to use the Spanish verb 'poner'
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