ve con Dios
/be kon djos/from spelling rules
The English phrase "go with God" is translated into Spanish as ve con Dios.
ve con Dios is a phrase used to say goodbye and wish someone a safe journey or divine protection. It functions as a religious or traditional way to bid farewell, implying a wish for divine protection during a journey or life in general.
What does it mean word for word?
ve is the informal imperative (command) form of the verb ir (to go).
Which one should you use?
ve con Dios is used when speaking to a friend, family member or someone you address as tú.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase changes from ve con Dios to vaya con Dios when addressing someone using the formal usted form. The phrase changes to vayan con Dios when addressing more than one person.
Did you know?
- The command ve in this phrase comes from the Latin 'vāde', which is also the ancestor of the English word 'evade'.
- In many traditional households, ve con Dios is not just a goodbye but is often accompanied by a sign of the cross or a physical gesture of blessing the person leaving.
- Even though 've' is a command, the phrase functions less like an order and more like a blessing. In many Spanish-speaking cultures, such traditional religious formulas are still used by older generations to show deep affection.
Examples in context
- ¡Feliz viaje, Carlos! Que Dios lo acompañe en su viaje y le dé protección.Have a safe trip, Carlos! May God accompany you on your journey and keep you safe.
- ¡Que te vaya bien en tu viaje, Ana! Que Dios te acompañe y te bendiga siempre.Have a good trip, Ana! May God accompany you and bless you always.
- Ve con Dios, hijo mío.Go with God, my son.
- Vete tranquilo, ve con Dios.Go in peace, go with God.
- Adiós, ve con Dios en tu viaje.Goodbye, go with God on your journey.
Example conversation
An elderly woman is seeing her grandson off at the train station.
- SofíaEs hora de partir, ve con Dios.It is time to leave, go with God.
- JavierGracias, abuela, te quiero mucho.Thank you, grandmother, I love you very much.
- SofíaCuídate mucho en el camino.Take great care of yourself on the road.
- JavierLo haré, nos vemos pronto.I will, see you soon.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Dios, con, dios, ve, CC BY-SA 4.0.
