ir a
/iɾ a/from spelling rules
The English phrase 'go to' is translated into Spanish as ir a.
Meaning: to move towards (verb)
How does it change in a sentence?
When ir a is followed by an infinitive verb, it functions as an auxiliary to express the near future, similar to the English construction 'to be going to [do something]'.
How do you pronounce it?
/iɾ a/
Did you know?
- In some dialects, saying voy (I go) is used to mean 'I am coming' when the speaker is moving toward the person they are talking to.
- In Spanish, the verb ir is one of the most irregular verbs because it draws from three different Latin roots: 'īre', 'vādere', and 'esse'.
- While ir a means 'go to', Spanish speakers often use irse to mean 'to leave' or 'to depart', changing the entire meaning by adding a small reflexive pronoun.
Examples in context
- Voy a ir al cine.I'm going to go to the movies.Tatoeba #1481669 by marcelostockle, translation #26481 by CK
- Quiero ir a Bali.I want to go to Bali.Tatoeba #5043017 by don_ramon, translation #4218086 by Hybrid
- Voy a ir a clase.I'll go to class.Tatoeba #9998949 by Shishir, translation #10083503 by DJ_Saidez
- 784 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sofía and Alejandro are at home deciding their afternoon plans.
- SofíaVamos a ir al parque ahora.We are going to go to the park now.
- AlejandroNo, yo quiero ir a la biblioteca.No, I want to go to the library.
- SofíaEstá bien, ¿quieres ir a la biblioteca conmigo?Okay, do you want to go to the library with me?
- AlejandroSí, vamos a ir a la biblioteca juntos.Yes, let's go to the library together.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries a, ir, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
