¿podemos irnos ya?
The Spanish phrase for "can we go now" is ¿podemos irnos ya?
A request to leave a place at the current moment.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase uses the pronominal verb irse, which emphasizes the act of departing or leaving a place. The suffix -nos in irnos is the reflexive pronoun for "we", indicating that the subjects are the ones performing the action of leaving.
How does it change in a sentence?
The pronoun nos can be attached to the end of the infinitive ir or placed before the conjugated verb podemos without changing the meaning. You can attach the pronoun nos to the end of the infinitive, as in ¿podemos irnos ya? or you can place the pronoun before the conjugated verb, as in ¿Nos podemos ir ya?
Did you know?
- The term ya can also be used as a standalone exclamation to mean 'enough' or 'stop', which is a completely different usage than 'now'.
- The word ya is a linguistic cousin of the French word déjà, which English speakers often use in the phrase 'déjà vu'.
- In some Caribbean dialects, the pronunciation of irnos may sound like the 's' is disappearing, making it sound closer to irno.
Examples in context
- Tenemos mucha prisa, ¿podemos irnos ya?We are in a great hurry, can we go now?
- Si terminas de comer, ¿podemos irnos ya?If you finish eating, can we go now?
Example conversation
Elena and Alejandro are at a boring party.
- ElenaNo conozco a nadie aquí. ¿Podemos irnos ya?I don't know anyone here. Can we go now?
- AlejandroDame cinco minutos más, por favor.Give me five more minutes, please.
- ElenaDijiste eso hace media hora.You said that half an hour ago.
- AlejandroEstá bien, vámonos.Alright, let's go.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ya, CC BY-SA 4.0.
