What does "les tocó crecer" mean?

Question

Buenos días!

I'm trying to understand part of the following sentence:

"Esto ni siquiera es una eleccio?n voluntaria, sino el resultado de la sociedad en la que les toco? crecer."

I think it means:

"This isn't a voluntary choice, but the result of the society in which they grew up."

But I don't understand the grammar or verb use of "les tocó crecer", as most of the translations I can find for "tocar" seem to mean "play" or "touch".

If anyone could help me understand this part of the phrase it would be very much appreciated.

Muchas gracias, Rangi

Answer 1

According to RAE Dictionary:

tocar

1. intransitive. Dicho de una cosa: Caer en suerte.

It was your luck, your fate.

Me tocó perder esta vez. (I was unlucky this time.)

Aquí nos tocó vivir. (It was our fate to live here.)

Idiom:

Me tocó bailar con la más fea. (I had the worst part.)

yes, our fate, very good, I didn't think of fate.. - annierats, Aug 21, 2015

Answer 2

One could perhaps say ' the society in which it was their lot to grow up' ( in which they had to grow up). Ot , it fell to them to grow up in this society, but that sounds a bit odd.

Answer 3

I wonder if it means something like 'in which they had to grow up' or 'in which it was their turn to grow up'... ???

Yes, in which they had to grow up. - annierats, Aug 20, 2015

Answer 4

"Tocarle a uno"

"It's about time that...."

"You're 36 years old, son. It's about time that you looked for a job." "Ya tienes 36 años, mi hijo. Te toca buscar trabajo."

it's your turn to.. - annierats, Aug 21, 2015

Answer 5

Muchas gracias a todos!