Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| vamos | /ˈbamos/ | |
| hala | /ˈala/ | |
| ánimo | /ˈanimo/ | |
| ándale | /ˈandale/ | |
| anda | /ˈanda/ | |
| venga | /ˈbenɡa/ | Spain |
Spanish uses different words for "come on" depending on whether you are urging someone to move, providing emotional support or cheering during a competition. Use vamos to urge someone to take action or move forward. Use ánimo specifically to provide emotional encouragement or to tell someone to "cheer up". For cheering during a sporting event, hala functions as an interjection similar to "go!"
What does it mean word for word?
vamos is the first-person plural present indicative of the verb ir (to go), which literally means "we go" or "let's go".
Which one should you use?
While vamos is used to urge action or movement, ánimo is used for providing emotional support or courage. Hala is specifically used as an interjection to cheer someone on, similar to "go!"
Is it said differently in some regions?
Venga is a very common way to say "come on" in Spain, but it is less common for this specific purpose in Latin America. In Mexico, ándale is a common colloquialism used to encourage someone or to say "that's it" or "go ahead".
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
Anda is the imperative command form of the verb andar (to walk/go) and is used informally to urge someone to hurry.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈbamos/
Did you know?
- The word ánimo shares the same root as the English word 'animal', as both derive from the Latin animus, meaning 'breath' or 'soul'.
- In Spain, venga is often used at the end of a phone call or conversation to signal that it is time to hang up, similar to 'anyway' or 'alright then'.
- The word hala is the core of the famous battle cry 'Hala Madrid', used by fans of the Real Madrid football club to cheer their team on.
Examples in context
- Venga, dame un beso.Come on, give me a kiss.This example shows how to use venga to urge someone to perform a small action.Tatoeba #7979740 by Seael, translation #2718088 by Hybrid
- Vamos, no seas tonto.Come on, don't be silly.This example uses vamos to urge someone not to be silly.Tatoeba #531748 by Shishir, translation #282403 by al_ex_an_der
- Vamos, todo irá bien.Come on, everything will be all right.This example uses vamos to provide encouragement during a difficult situation.Tatoeba #683372 by Shishir, translation #1395398 by marcelostockle
- No se haga de rogar, por favorDon't hold back, please
- ¡Vamos!Come on! Let's go!
- ¡Anímate! Ven a bailarCome on! Come dance!
- ¡Dale, inténtalo!Come on, give it a try!
- 65 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Alejandro is trying to motivate Lucía to join a race.
- Alejandro¡Vamos, Lucía, tú puedes!Come on, Lucía, you can do it!
- LucíaEs que estoy muy cansada.It's just that I am very tired.
- Alejandro¡Vamos, solo falta un poco!Come on, there is only a little bit left!
- LucíaEstá bien, lo intentaré.Alright, I will try.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “come on” translations and entries vamos, hala, ánimo, ándale, anda, venga, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries hala, vamos, ánimo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
