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tocar

verbBeginnerHigh frequency

What does “tocar” mean in English?

  1. 1.to play

    to play (a musical instrument)

  2. 2.to touch

    to touch (tocar algo con las manos: no toques eso)

Example sentences

  • Toco la guitarra los domingos.

    I play guitar on Sundays.

  • No me toques.

    Don't touch me.

  • Toca el piano muy bien.

    He plays piano very well.

How to use it

Tocar means 'to play' (an instrument), 'to touch'. Regular -ar verb. Use tocar for instruments, jugar for games/sports — important split.

Common mistake

INSTRUMENTS use tocar; GAMES/SPORTS use jugar. 'Toco la guitarra' (play guitar), 'juego al tenis' (play tennis). Don't mix them up.

Topics

Related Beginner words

Reference

This entry’s teaching guidance follows A New Reference Grammar of Modern Spanish (Butt, Benjamin & Moreira Rodríguez, Routledge), 13.