What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the verb ir (to go), the contraction al (to the) and the anglicism lobby.
Which one should you use?
While ir al lobby is a common way to express this, you can use other forms depending on the setting. Ve al vestíbulo is the most common way of saying 'go to the lobby' in an informal setting, whereas Vete al vestíbulo adds a sense of urgency or command to the request to go to the lobby. For more formal contexts, you might use Ir al vestíbulo, Por favor, vaya al vestíbulo to include "please" or Diríjase al vestíbulo to mean "proceed to the lobby".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
In formal situations, you can use Ir al vestíbulo, Por favor, vaya al vestíbulo or Diríjase al vestíbulo. Using la recepción (the reception) is a more formal and standard way to refer to the reception area than using the word lobby. In informal settings, Ve al vestíbulo is used, while Vete al vestíbulo is more commanding. If you are addressing someone you are familiar with, you might start a sentence with Oye (hey).
How does it change in a sentence?
To express that you personally are going to the lobby (e.g., "I am going to the lobby"), use the first-person singular form voy al lobby.
Did you know?
- The verb ir is a linguistic puzzle because its different forms are stitched together from three distinct Latin verbs: īre, vādere and esse.
- If you are in certain regions like Argentina or Uruguay, you might hear the command andá instead of ve to tell someone to go to the lobby. This comes from the verb andar, which means 'to walk' rather than the standard 'to go'.
- Depending on the country, asking someone to go to la recepción might imply a formal administrative task like checking in, while el lobby suggests a casual meeting.
Examples in context
- Disculpe, ¿podría ir al vestíbulo, por favor?Excuse me, could you go to the lobby, please?
- Oye, ve al vestíbulo y espera por nosotros.Hey, go to the lobby and wait for us.
- Debes ir al lobby para hacer el check-in.You must go to the lobby to check in.
- Voy a ir al lobby a esperar a mi amigo.I am going to go to the lobby to wait for my friend.
- ¿Quieres ir al lobby para tomar un café?Do you want to go to the lobby to have a coffee?
Example conversation
A couple is arriving at a large hotel.
- MateoSofía, tenemos que ir al lobby para las llaves.Sofía, we have to go to the lobby for the keys.
- SofíaEstá bien, Mateo, vamos ahora mismo.Okay, Mateo, let's go right now.
- MateoEl recepcionista nos espera allá.The receptionist is waiting for us there.
- SofíaPerfecto, caminemos hacia allá.Perfect, let's walk over there.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ir, lobby, CC BY-SA 4.0.
