Spanish · Everyday Verbs

"to go" in Spanish: ir

ir

Say it: eer / boy / VAH-mohsverb/ˈiɾ/

To go in Spanish is ir. Key forms are voy, vas, and va. Learners also build near-future plans with ir a + infinitive: Voy a comer.

Making plans

Voy al mercado después del almuerzo.
I'm going to the market after lunch.
Practice Spanish out loud

Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free

How to pronounce ir

Say it

eer / boy / VAH-mohs

/ˈiɾ/

Ir is eer. Voy sounds like boy. Vamos is VAH-mohs.

"to go" in Spanish: quick reference

SpanishEnglish
irto go

Dictionary form.

voyI go / I'm going

Present and near-future helper.

vas / vayou go / he-she goes

Everyday movement.

vamos / vanwe go / they go

Vamos also means let's go.

ir a + infinitivegoing to (do)

Near future: Voy a estudiar.

How to use ir in real life

  1. 1Making plans

    Voy al mercado después del almuerzo.

    I'm going to the market after lunch.

    Voy al + place is a core pattern.

  2. 2Asking a friend

    ¿Quieres ir conmigo al cine?

    Do you want to go with me to the movies?

    Ir stays in the infinitive after quieres.

  3. 3Leaving a party

    Ya me voy. Mañana vamos otra vez.

    I'm leaving now. Tomorrow we go again.

    Voy and vamos are everyday ir forms.

Mistakes English speakers make with ir

Incorrect: Yo ir a casa.

Correct: Yo voy a casa.

Conjugate ir: yo voy.

Incorrect: Voy de la tienda.

Correct: Voy a la tienda.

Direction uses a: voy a…

Good to know

Latin American speakers use vamos constantly for let's go. Ir a + infinitive is the friendly near-future that beginners hear all day.

Try it in a ChatPal conversation

Deciding where to eat after class

  1. ChatPal

    ¿Vamos por tacos ahora?

    Shall we go for tacos now?

  2. You

    Sí. Yo voy contigo.

    Yes. I'm going with you.

  3. ChatPal

    Perfecto. ¿Vas a pie o en bus?

    Perfect. Are you going on foot or by bus?

  4. You

    A pie. Quiero ir despacio hoy.

    On foot. I want to go slowly today.

This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.

Practice this conversation in ChatPal

"to go" in other languages

FAQ

Common questions about "to go" in Spanish

What are the main present forms of ir?

Voy, vas, va, vamos, van.

How do I say I'm going to study?

Voy a estudiar. Ir a + infinitive shows near future.

Does vamos mean we go or let's go?

Both. Tone and context decide.

How do you pronounce voy?

Like English boy. One clear syllable.

Learn a word, then use it out loud

  1. Step 1: See it in context
  2. Step 2: Say it out loud
  3. Step 3: Get feedback
  4. Step 4: Use it in real scenarios

Keep reading

Ready to say it out loud?

ChatPal is a voice-first app for practicing real conversations in Spanish. Try real scenarios and get personalized feedback on your speaking.

Start with 7 days free.