How To Use the Spanish Preposition Hacia

Hacia is a Spanish preposition typically meaning toward. It is usually used to indicate motion toward a person or object, although it can also be used to indicate a favorable attitude toward a person or object. Hacia is pronounced something like OSS-yah. It should not be confused with hacà ­a, a conjugated form of the verb hacer. Using Hacia To Indicate Motion Toward Here are examples of using hacia when referring to motion toward a person or thing. Although toward is the most common translation, other prepositions sometimes work as well. Los jovenes andaron hacia la direccià ³n del lago. (The youths walked in the direction of the lake.)Corrià ³ hacia el coche para tratar de sacar a su amigo, vivo y conciente. (He ran at the car in order to try to remove his friend, who was alive and conscious.)Girar hacia la izquierda y seguir hacia el oeste cinco millas. (Turn toward the left and keep on going toward the west for five miles.)Mi hermana empezà ³ a gatear hacia nuestro padre. (My sister began to crawl toward our father.) Hacia can be used with abajo, adelante, arriba, and atrà ¡s, respectively, to mean downward, forward, upward, and backward. Similarly, it can be used with points of the compass and other words to act as the equivalent of the English suffix -ward. Mover el cursor hacia adelante al final de la là ­nea. (Move the cursor forward to the end of the line.)La anaforia es la tendencia de los ojos a moverse hacia arriba cuando està ¡n en reposo. (Anaphoria is the tendency for the eyes to move upward when they are at rest.)Los vientos mà ¡s fuertes del planeta avanzan hacia el este a una velocidad de 1.600 kilà ³metros por hora. (The planets strongest winds blow eastward at a speed of 1,600 kilometers per hour.) ¿Quà © pasarà ­a si un satà ©lite se dirigiera a toda velocidad hacia la Tierra? (What would happen if a satellite were directed earthward at full speed?) The motion can be figurative as well as literal: Viajamos hacia la libertad econà ³mica. (We are journeying toward economic liberty.)El mundo camina dormido hacia un desastre climà ¡tico. (The world is sleepwalking its way toward a climate disaster.)Con un ritmo enà ©rgico, â€Å"Un paso hacia la paz† es una cancià ³n llena de optimismo y esperanza. (With an energetic rhythm, â€Å"A Step Toward Peace† is a song full of optimism and hope.) Using Hacia for Direction Without Motion Use of hacia doesnt always indicate motion. It is used often with mirar and other verbs to indicate the direction someone is looking, either literally or figuratively. And it can also be used to indicate the existence of someone or something in a certain direction. Natalia mirà ³ hacia Mateo con un gesto de frustracià ³n. (Natalia looked toward Mateo with a look of frustration on her face.)La organizacià ³n mira hacia el futuro tras un aà ±o de cambio. (The organization is looking toward the future after a year of change.)Desde Atenas y hacia el norte hay trenes regulares diarios a muchas ciudades. (From Athens and toward the north there are regular daily trains to many cities.)En el camino hacia la escuela hay ruido y mucho trà ¡nsito. (On the road toward the school there is much noise and traffic.) Using Hacia for Expressing Attitudes Hacia can be used in expressing emotions or attitudes toward a person or thing: Tiene sentimientos mà ¡s profundos hacia ella, (He has very deep feelings for her.)El sondeo revelà ³ una disminucià ³n de la simpatà ­a popular hacia el corte. (The poll showed a loss of popular sympathy for the court.)Mà ¡s pruebas apuntan hacia los rebeldes. (More evidence is pointing to the rebels.)Es importante desarrollar actitudes positivas hacia la diversidad. (It is important to develop positive attitudes about diversity.) Using Hacia in Time Expressions Finally, hacia is sometimes used to express approximations of time: Llega en helicà ³ptero hacia las cinco de la maà ±ana para traer provisiones. (He arrives by helicopter at about 5 a.m. to bring provisions.)Fue construido hacia 1970. (It was built around 1970.)El tren llega hacia las 10 de la maà ±ana a Cajicà ¡. (The train arrives around 10 a.m. at Cajicà ¡.) Key Takeaways The Spanish preposition hacia is usually the equivalent of toward when it is used to indicate a direction of motion or attention.Hacia can also be used as the equivalent of the suffix -ward when used to indicate direction.Hacia is also used in referring to attitudes toward or about something.