Ir: to go
Pronunciation: eer (stress the capital letters)
Ir means “to go” in English.
Quick answer
- Meaning: to go
- How to say it: eer
- Present: yo voy, tú vas
- Level: Beginner (A1)
What “ir” means and how to use it
Ir means “to go.” You also use it with “a” plus an infinitive to talk about the near future, like “going to” in English.
How to conjugate “ir”
| Who | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| yo | voy | I |
| tú | vas | you (informal) |
| él, ella, usted | va | he, she, you (formal) |
| nosotros | vamos | we |
| ellos, ustedes | van | they, you all |
| Past (preterite) | yo fui, él fue | I / he or she |
| Past participle | ido | used with haber |
A closer look at “ir”
Ir a plus an infinitive
Ir a plus an infinitive is the easiest way to talk about the near future: voy a comer (I am going to eat), vamos a viajar (we are going to travel).
Ir and irse
Ir means “to go” somewhere. The reflexive irse means “to leave” or “to go away”: me voy (I am leaving). Compare “voy a la tienda” and “me voy de la tienda.”
Examples with audio
- Voy al trabajo en autobús.I go to work by bus.
- ¿Vamos al cine?Shall we go to the cinema?
- Mañana voy a estudiar.Tomorrow I am going to study.
Usage tip
Use “a” after ir before a place or an infinitive, and “al” (a + el) before a masculine noun: voy al banco, voy a la playa. Ir is irregular, and its past forms look the same as ser (fui, fue).
Frequently asked questions
How do you say “to go” in Spanish?
“to go” in Spanish is “ir.” It is pronounced eer, with the stress on the syllable in capital letters.
How do you pronounce “ir”?
Say eer. The syllable in capital letters gets the stress. Press the speaker button at the top of this page to hear it.
What is the past tense of “ir”?
In the preterite, “yo” is “fui” and “él” is “fue.” The past participle is “ido.”
Practice “ir” for free
Reading helps, but practice makes it stick. Try short exercises with instant feedback.
Practice Spanish for free with Leo Read the lesson: Ir + A in Spanish: How to Talk About the Future