Ir vs. Venir
Ir and venir are both irregular and very common. Like English, they depend on the direction of the movement. The surprise comes when you answer a call: in Spanish you do not say “I come,” you say “I go.”
Quick answer
- Ir = to go (away from the speaker): Voy a la escuela.
- Venir = to come (toward the speaker): Vengo a tu casa.
- English “I’m coming” is often voy: ¡Ya voy!
Conjugations
Both verbs are irregular in the present, so learn them as a set.
| Person | ir | venir |
|---|---|---|
| yo | voy | vengo |
| tú | vas | vienes |
| él, ella, usted | va | viene |
| nosotros | vamos | venimos |
| ellos, ustedes | van | vienen |
Examples
- Voy al mercado todos los sábados.I go to the market every Saturday.Ir.
- Mi tía viene a la fiesta.My aunt is coming to the party.Venir.
- ¿Vienes conmigo?Are you coming with me?Venir.
Direction: toward or away
Use venir when the movement is toward the place where the speaker is (or where the listener is, if you are talking about their location). Use ir when the movement is away or toward another place.
Examples
- Ven aquí, por favor.Come here, please.Toward the speaker.
- Voy a tu casa a las ocho.I will go to your house at eight.Toward the listener’s place, but with ir.
- ¿Vienes a mi fiesta?Are you coming to my party?To the speaker’s party.
- Mañana vamos a la playa.Tomorrow we are going to the beach.Away.
The surprise: ya voy
When someone calls you and you are about to arrive, English says “I’m coming!” Spanish says ¡Voy! or ¡Ya voy!. Literally, it means “I’m going.” The speaker takes the point of view of the person who called.
Examples
- ¡Ya voy, espérame!I’m coming, wait for me!Literally: I’m going.
- Voy en cinco minutos.I’ll be there in five minutes.Ir.
- ¿Vas a la fiesta de Ana?Are you coming to Ana’s party?Ir in a question about a third place.
Ir a + infinitive
The most common use of ir is ir a plus an infinitive for the near future: Voy a comer. See our lesson on the future with ir a for more.
Examples
- Voy a estudiar esta noche.I am going to study tonight.Near future.
- ¿Qué vas a hacer?What are you going to do?Question.
Spanish around the world
- The “ya voy” habit is the same everywhere. In Spain you may hear ¡Ya voy! or ¡Ahora voy!. In Mexico, ¡Ahorita voy! or ¡Ahorita vengo! is common, but ahorita can mean soon, not now.
Common mistakes
Incorrect: ¡Ya vengo! (answering a call)
Correct: ¡Ya voy!
Answer with ir when someone else is calling you.
Incorrect: Voy aquí.
Correct: Vengo aquí.
Toward the speaker: venir.
Incorrect: Yo viengo mañana.
Correct: Yo vengo mañana.
Venir has a g in the yo form.
Incorrect: Nosotros vamos a la fiesta. (meaning we’re coming to your party)
Correct: Nosotros vamos a tu fiesta.
Correct, but check that vamos fits the speaker’s point of view.
Remember the idea
- Ir: voy, vas, va, vamos, van. Venir: vengo, vienes, viene, venimos, vienen.
- Venir: toward the speaker. Ir: away, or toward another place.
- When someone calls you, say ¡Ya voy!, not “Ya vengo.”
Mini practice
5 quick questions. You get feedback right after each answer.
Frequently asked questions
Why do Spanish speakers say ‘ya voy’ and not ‘ya vengo’?
They take the point of view of the person who called. Think of it as “I’m going to you.”
What does ‘ahorita vengo’ mean?
It means “I will be right back.” The speaker is leaving and will return.
Is ir a regular verb?
No. It is irregular in the present, the preterite, and the imperfect.
How do I say ‘let’s go’?
Vamos. ¡Vamos a comer! means let’s eat.
Ready to practice your Spanish?
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A1Spanish Present Tense: AR, ER and IR Verbs
Conjugate any regular verb in the present, then learn the stem changes and irregular yo forms you will meet next.