Spanish word

tocar

Pronunciation

IPA/toˈkaɾ/

Meaning

  • verbtouch

Example

No toques esa planta; es frágil.

Don't touch that plant; it's fragile.

Illustration for tocar (touch)

More examples

No olvides lavarte las manos antes de tocar la comida.

Don't forget to wash your hands before you touch the food.

Core concept

Hand making gentle contact with an object.

Common phrases

  • tocar la comida

    touch the food

  • tocar la cara

    touch the face

  • tocar el timbre

    touch the doorbell

Similar words

pulsar: Presses a button or switch lightly with a fingertip to activate it.
apretar: Applies firm pressure by squeezing or pressing something strongly.
sostener: Holds and supports an object in the hand or arms to keep it steady.
rozar: Grazes or brushes against something so surfaces make only a light contact.

Definition in Spanish

Colocar la mano o parte del cuerpo sobre algo para percibirlo o moverlo; por extensión, ejecutar música en un instrumento, llamar a la puerta, corresponder un turno o producir impresión en alguien.

Word origin

From Vulgar Latin *toccare, which yielded the noun toque and the Old Spanish verb that became tocar, originally meaning to touch or strike.

Usage tips

  • With indirect object pronouns like me/te/le, tocar often means 'it's someone's turn' or 'falls to someone', so me toca means it's my turn rather than someone touching me.

Other meanings

  • playverb
  • knockverb
  • be one's turnverb
  • moveverb

Related words

  • toquetouchnoun
  • tocadorvanitynoun

Word lists with this word