Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
How to Say Going in Spanish: Yendo & Ir
Yendo · gerund / verb · YEHN-doh
The Spanish gerund for 'going' is 'yendo,' derived from the irregular verb 'ir' (to go). However, 'going to' as a future construction uses 'ir a' plus an infinitive, as in 'voy a comer' (I'm going to eat). The verb 'ir' is one of the most commonly used and most irregular verbs in Spanish.
Say YEHN-doh for the gerund, with two syllables and stress on the first. The base verb 'ir' is simply pronounced eer.
Estoy yendo al supermercado, ¿necesitas algo?
I'm going to the supermarket, do you need anything?
Going in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for going, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| yendo | going | YEHN-doh | Default, widely understood |
| ir | going | infinitive form of the verb | |
| ir a | going | used to express future actions |
How Native Speakers Use Yendo
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Current action
Estamos yendo hacia el aeropuerto ahora mismo.
We are going toward the airport right now.
Describing current movement.
Future plan
Voy a estudiar medicina el próximo año.
I'm going to study medicine next year.
Expressing a future intention.
Asking about plans
¿A dónde vas este fin de semana?
Where are you going this weekend?
Asking someone about their plans.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Yendo
Inventing a regular gerund
Incorrect: Estoy iendo al parque.
Correct: Estoy yendo al parque.
The gerund of 'ir' is 'yendo,' not 'iendo.' This is an irregular form that must be memorized.
Confusing ir and venir
Incorrect: Voy aquí todos los días.
Correct: Vengo aquí todos los días.
'Ir' means to go away from the speaker, while 'venir' means to come toward the speaker. If you are already at the location, use 'venir.'
Lock in Going 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 Yendo used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using yendo in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear Estoy yendo al supermercado, ¿necesitas algo? 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 Going in Spanish
- Is ir the most irregular verb in Spanish?
- 'Ir' is among the most irregular Spanish verbs, with completely unique forms in the present tense (voy, vas, va, vamos, vais, van) and a preterite that shares forms with 'ser' (fui, fuiste, fue, fuimos, fuisteis, fueron).
- How is 'going to' used for the future in Spanish?
- The construction 'ir a' plus an infinitive creates the near future tense, as in 'Voy a cocinar' (I'm going to cook), which is the most common way to express immediate future plans in everyday Spanish.
- When should I use yendo vs. ir a?
- 'Yendo' (the gerund) describes the act of physically going somewhere right now, while 'ir a' plus infinitive expresses a future intention or plan to do something.