cuando llegaron

when they arrived

cuando llegaron

phrase

1. (when they reached a place; third person plural; often used with "a")

a. when they arrived

Cuando llegaron a París, empezó a llover.

When they arrived in Paris, it started raining.

b. when they got to

El hijo de la pareja los estaba esperando en una mesa cuando llegaron al restaurante.

The couple's son was waiting for them at a table when they got to the restaurant.

2. (when they reached a situation; third person plural; often used with "a")

a. when they became

Mis padres se fueron a vivir a una residencia cuando llegaron a la vejez.

My parents went to live in a nursing home when they became old.

b. when they came to

Los socialistas derogaron la pena de muerte cuando llegaron al poder.

The socialists abolished the death penalty when they came to power.

3. (when you reached a place; second person plural; often used with "a")

a. when you arrived

Cuéntenme qué vieron cuando llegaron a su casa. ¿Vieron al ladrón?

Tell me what you saw when you arrived at your house. Did you see the burglar?

b. when you got to

¿Qué tiempo hacía cuando llegaron a Cancún?

What was the weather like when you got to Cancun?

4. (when it's the time for; third person plural)

a. when ... arrived

¿Te acuerdas de cuando llegaron los primeros computadores?

Do you remember when the first computers arrived?

b. when ... came

La guerra se interrumpió cuando llegaron las lluvias.

The war stopped when the rainy season came.