salir
/saˈliɾ/
The English phrase 'go out' is translated into Spanish as salir.
salir is used when you leave your home or a building to go to public places. You can use it for various social activities, such as salir a cenar (go out for dinner), salir de fiesta (go out partying) or salir a pasear (go out for a walk).
Meaning: to leave one's abode to go to public places (verb)
Which one should you use?
While salir is used for social purposes like 'going out', it is also the standard verb used to mean 'to leave' a physical location or a room.
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb follows various conjugations in the present indicative. For example, salgo means 'I go out', sales means 'you go out' and sale means 'he/she goes out'. If you are speaking in the past tense, the first-person singular preterite form is salí, which means 'I went out'.
How do you pronounce it?
/saˈliɾ/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Be careful with the phrase salir con. In Spanish, this means you are dating someone, rather than just physically leaving a building with them.
Did you know?
- The verb salir is used to describe the sun rising, as in el sol sale, meaning the sun 'goes out' or emerges.
- The English word 'sally', as in a 'sally forth' or a sudden charge, is a direct linguistic relative of the Spanish salir.
- The Spanish verb salir can also be used to describe things that are published or released, like a new book or a movie.
Examples in context
- Es hora de salir.It's time to go out.This sentence shows how to express that it is time to go out.Tatoeba #4515461 by cueyayotl, translation #8844961 by shekitten
- Hoy no debes salir.You must not go out today.This sentence expresses a prohibition against going out today.Tatoeba #1178748 by marcelostockle, translation #16132 by CK
- Tom no quiere salir.Tom doesn't want to go out.This sentence describes someone who does not want to go out.Tatoeba #1785404 by hayastan, translation #1025916 by CK
- ¿Quieres salir a cenar?Would you like to go out for dinner?
- Me tengo que ir ahora.I have to go now.
- Debo marcharme.I must be going.
- Vamos a salir el viernes.We are going out on Friday.
- Me voy a ir a la playa. ¿Te apuntas?I'm going to the beach. Do you want to come?
- No aguanto más aquí, ¡larguémonos!I can't stand it here anymore, let's get out of here!
- 178 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Alejandro and María are talking at home about their plans for the evening.
- Alejandro¿Quieres salir a caminar?Do you want to go out for a walk?
- MaríaSí, me gustaría salir un rato.Yes, I would like to go out for a while.
- AlejandroPerfecto, yo también quiero salir.Perfect, I want to go out too.
- MaríaEntonces, vamos a salir ahora.Then, let's go out now.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “go out” translations and entries salir, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries salir, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
