Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
How to Say "Go" in Spanish
Ir · verb · eer
"Go" translates to "ir" in Spanish. It is highly irregular across nearly every tense: present (voy, vas, va, vamos, van), preterite (fui, fuiste, fue, fuimos, fueron), and imperfect (iba, ibas, iba, íbamos, iban). The construction "ir a + infinitive" expresses the near future, much like "going to" in English. The reflexive form "irse" means to leave or go away.
The infinitive "ir" is pronounced like the English word "ear" — just a single syllable. The conjugated forms vary: VOY, BAHS, BAH, BAH-mohs, BAHN.
Vamos al parque después de comer.
We are going to the park after lunch.
Go in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for go, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| ir | go | eer | Default, widely understood |
| irse | go | to leave / to go away (reflexive) | |
| andar | go | to walk / to go on foot (colloquial in some regions) |
How Native Speakers Use Ir
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Near future construction
Voy a estudiar toda la noche para el examen.
I am going to study all night for the exam.
"Ir a + infinitive" is the most common way to express future plans in conversational Spanish.
Preterite — completed action
Ayer fuimos al museo de arte contemporáneo.
Yesterday we went to the contemporary art museum.
In the preterite, "ir" shares its forms with "ser" (fui, fuiste, fue…). Context clarifies the meaning.
Reflexive — leaving
Ya me voy, se me hace tarde para la reunión.
I'm leaving now, I'm running late for the meeting.
"Irse" adds the sense of departing from a place, whereas "ir" simply indicates movement toward a destination.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Ir
Confusing ir and ser in preterite
Incorrect: Ayer fue al cine. (intending: He was at the cinema.)
Correct: Ayer fue al cine. (correct meaning: He went to the cinema.)
"Ir" and "ser" share identical preterite forms (fui, fue, fueron…). "Fue al cine" means "went to the cinema," not "was at the cinema." For "was," use the imperfect: "estaba en el cine."
Omitting the preposition "a"
Incorrect: Vamos el supermercado.
Correct: Vamos al supermercado.
"Ir" requires the preposition "a" before a destination. "Al" is the contraction of "a + el."
Lock in Go 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 Ir used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using ir in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear Vamos al parque después de comer. 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 Go in Spanish
- What is the difference between "ir" and "irse"?
- "Ir" means to go toward a destination (voy a la tienda). "Irse" emphasizes leaving a current location (me voy de aquí). Think of "ir" as arriving and "irse" as departing.
- Why do "ir" and "ser" have the same preterite forms?
- This is a historical merger. In Old Spanish, both verbs had distinct forms, but over centuries they collapsed into a single set (fui, fuiste, fue…). Native speakers rely on context to distinguish them.
- How do I say "let's go" in Spanish?
- "¡Vamos!" is the standard way to say "let's go." You can also say "¡Vámonos!" (let's get out of here / let's leave), which uses the reflexive form and implies departing from the current spot.