Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
Until in Spanish: Hasta
Hasta · preposition · AHS-tah
Hasta is the Spanish preposition meaning until, up to, or as far as, used for time, distance, and limits. When followed by a clause describing an event, it becomes hasta que (until something happens). Hasta is also part of the iconic farewell phrase hasta luego (until later) and hasta mañana (until tomorrow).
Hasta is two syllables: AHS-tah, with stress on the first. The h is completely silent in Spanish, so the word begins with the a vowel sound.
Esperé hasta las diez de la noche.
I waited until ten at night.
Until in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for until, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| hasta | until | AHS-tah | Default, widely understood |
| hasta que | until | conjunction form: until (something happens) |
How Native Speakers Use Hasta
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Time limit
La tienda está abierta hasta las nueve de la noche.
The store is open until nine at night.
Hasta + time expression is the standard way to indicate a deadline or closing time.
Until something happens
No salgas hasta que deje de llover.
Don't go out until it stops raining.
Hasta que introduces a subordinate clause describing the event that ends the wait.
Farewell expression
Hasta pronto, espero verte la próxima semana.
See you soon, I hope to see you next week.
Hasta pronto, hasta luego, and hasta mañana are everyday farewells built on hasta.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Hasta
Omitting que before a clause
Incorrect: Espera hasta ella llegue.
Correct: Espera hasta que ella llegue.
When until introduces a clause with a conjugated verb, Spanish requires hasta que, not just hasta. Dropping que creates a grammatically broken sentence.
Confusing hasta with desde
Incorrect: Trabajo hasta las ocho de la mañana. (intending since/from 8 AM)
Correct: Trabajo desde las ocho de la mañana.
Hasta means until or up to a point, while desde means from or since a starting point. Confusing them reverses the meaning of the sentence entirely.
Lock in Until Vocabulary with the Parrot Method
Why word lists alone don't stick
Memorizing a translation feels productive, but most learners forget 70% of what they studied within 48 hours. Vocabulary needs spaced repetition AND real-world exposure to transfer to long-term memory.
See Hasta used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using hasta in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear Esperé hasta las diez de la noche. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.
Save, review, repeat, stay consistent
Tap any word to save it. Parrot's spaced-repetition system surfaces it right before you'd forget, no manual flashcard creation. The watch, parrot back, save, review cycle turns recognition into fluency at 2.7x the speed of traditional study.
Common Questions About Until in Spanish
- How do you say until in Spanish?
- Until in Spanish is hasta when followed by a noun, time, or place, and hasta que when followed by a clause with a verb. Hasta is one of the most common prepositions in Spanish and appears in everyday expressions, schedules, and farewells.
- Does hasta que require the subjunctive?
- Hasta que takes the subjunctive when the event has not yet occurred: espera hasta que llegue (wait until he arrives). When describing a completed past event, the indicative is used: esperé hasta que llegó (I waited until he arrived). The mood depends on whether the clause refers to a future or realized event.
- What is the difference between hasta and hasta que?
- Hasta is a preposition used before nouns and time expressions: hasta las cinco (until five o'clock). Hasta que is a conjunction that introduces a full clause with a verb: hasta que termines (until you finish). The choice depends on whether what follows is a noun phrase or a sentence.