What does it mean word for word?
The part salir conmigo literally means to go out with me, which is the standard way to express dating in Spanish.
Which one should you use?
While English speakers use the verb "to date", Spanish speakers use the verb salir (to go out) to express the same romantic intention.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The phrase ¿Quieres salir conmigo? is the informal version. If you wish to be more formal and polite, you can use ¿Le gustaría salir conmigo? which uses the usted form.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase uses the informal tú form of the verb querer (to want), which is appropriate for someone you are interested in dating.
When do people say it?
If you are asking someone out, common responses include Sí, me encantaría (Yes, I would love to) for a positive answer or No, gracias (No, thank you) to decline the invitation politely.
Did you know?
- The verb salir used in this phrase is a direct linguistic relative of the English word 'sally', as in a 'sally' or sudden charge from a fortification.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, instead of asking ¿Quieres salir conmigo?, people might simply ask if you want to ir por un café (go for a coffee) to signal romantic interest.
- In some Latin American countries, using salir can sometimes sound quite platonic, and people might use pretender or andar con to express much deeper romantic intentions.
Examples in context
- Hola María, ¿le gustaría salir conmigo a tomar un café?Hello Maria, would you like to go out with me for a coffee?
- Oye, ¿quieres ir al cine conmigo este viernes?Hey, do you want to go to the movies with me this Friday?
Example conversation
Lucía and Javier are talking at a coffee shop.
- LucíaJavier, ¿quieres salir conmigo?Javier, do you want to go out with me?
- Javier¡Claro! Me encantaría.Of course! I would love to.
- Lucía¿Qué te parece ir al cine?How about going to the cinema?
- JavierMe parece un plan perfecto.That sounds like a perfect plan.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries conmigo, salir, CC BY-SA 4.0.
