Galician

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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Attested since the 13th century (alcançar). From Vulgar Latin *accalciare, from calx, calcis (heel).

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /alkanˈθaɾ/, (western) /alkanˈsaɾ/

Verb

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alcanzar (first-person singular present alcanzo, first-person singular preterite alcancei, past participle alcanzado)

  1. (transitive) to reach; to catch
    Synonyms: abranguer, acadar
  2. (transitive) to attain
    Synonyms: acadar, atanguer, atinxir

Conjugation

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Derived terms

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References

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Spanish

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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From Vulgar Latin *incalciāre (ultimately related to Latin calx (heel)), influenced by Arabic اَل (al-) and/or the Spanish preposition al. Compare the form encalzar, Portuguese encalçar, Catalan encalçar. Also compare English causeway, cause- being derived from calciare (to tread), which Spanish calzar also descends from.

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): (Spain) /alkanˈθaɾ/ [al.kãn̟ˈθaɾ]
  • IPA(key): (Latin America, Philippines) /alkanˈsaɾ/ [al.kãnˈsaɾ]
  • Audio (Colombia):(file)
  • Rhymes: -aɾ
  • Syllabification: al‧can‧zar

Verb

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alcanzar (first-person singular present alcanzo, first-person singular preterite alcancé, past participle alcanzado)

  1. (transitive) to reach; to attain or achieve; to catch up with
  2. (intransitive) to be enough; to suffice
  3. (transitive) to peak, to peak at
    Synonym: llegar

Usage notes

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  • When alcanzar is used to mean to peak or to peak at, it is usually followed by some measurable direct object like "el puesto", "el número", "un punto máximo". Thus, alcanzar in this case means to reach. Ultimately, the way to say that someone "peaked" in their career or a song "peaked" on the charts is expressed as "to reach a high point of" or "to reach the position of".

Conjugation

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Derived terms

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See also

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Further reading

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