aterriza

Aterriza is a Spanish verb form derived from aterrizar, most commonly used as the present indicative for the third-person singular (él/ella/Ud. aterriza) and, in the affirmative, as the informal tú imperative (land!). The verb describes the act of landing or touching the ground, typically referring to aircraft, spacecraft, or other objects reaching a surface. It can also be used in a broader sense to indicate that something reaches a destination or becomes established in a place or situation.

Etymology and meaning arise from the combination of a root related to tierra or earth and the suffix -izar, which forms verbs that denote causing or becoming. The action is most often physical—an aircraft, ship, or vehicle landing on a surface—but figurative uses exist, such as ideas, plans, or proposals “landing” in a certain context or audience.

In practical use, aterriza appears in aviation contexts with sentences like “El avión aterriza en el aeropuerto a las 18:30.” It also occurs in general descriptions, for example, “La nave aterriza en la pista.” The imperative form, also written as aterriza, instructs someone to land, as in a command to a pilot or an animal carrying a payload.

Conjugation (present tense, indicative) includes: yo aterrizo, tú aterrizas, él/ella/Ud. aterriza, nosotros aterrizamos, vosotros aterrizáis, ellos aterrizan. The affirmative tú imperative is aterriza; the formal imperative is aterrice (usted). Negative tú forms use aterrices.

See also: aterrizaje, aterrizamiento (landing), aterrizaje for related aviation terms.