me tengo que ir
/me tenɡo ke iɾ/from spelling rules
The English abbreviation 'gtg' (got to go) can be translated into Spanish as me tengo que ir.
This phrase is used to tell someone that you must leave a conversation or location.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase me tengo que ir is composed of me (myself), tengo (I have), que (that/to) and ir (to go).
Which one should you use?
Tengo que irme is an informal way to say 'I have to go' in Spanish. Voy saliendo is an informal way to say 'I'm on my way out' in Spanish. Debo largarme is an informal way to express that you have to go, literally meaning 'I must take off'. Tengo que marcharme is a formal way to say 'I have to leave'. Debo retirarme is a formal way to say 'I must withdraw'.
How does it change in a sentence?
The reflexive pronoun me can be moved to the end of the infinitive verb ir to form tengo que irme with the same meaning.
How do you pronounce it?
/me tenɡo ke iɾ/
Did you know?
- The Spanish word ir is a linguistic puzzle because it uses three different Latin verbs to form its conjugation. The present tense uses īre, the phrase voy comes from vādere and the past tense fui comes from esse, the verb for 'to be'.
- Using voy saliendo to say 'I'm leaving' often functions as a social softener. In many Spanish-speaking cultures, stating a firm intention to leave can seem abrupt, so using the present continuous makes the departure feel more gradual and polite.
- While me tengo que ir is common, using the verb largarse in debo largarme can imply a sense of urgency or a desire to escape an unpleasant situation. It is more aggressive than 'leaving' and closer to 'getting out of here'.
Examples in context
- Bueno, me tengo que ir. ¡Hablamos luego!Well, I have to go. We'll talk later!
- Lo siento, me tengo que ir.I am sorry, I have to go.
- Ya es tarde, me tengo que ir.It is late already, I have to go.
- Perdón, me tengo que ir ahora.Sorry, I have to go now.
Example conversation
María and Javier are chatting on the phone.
- MaríaHola Javier, ¿cómo estás?Hello Javier, how are you?
- JavierMuy bien, María. ¿Y tú?Very well, María. And you?
- MaríaBien, pero me tengo que ir.Fine, but I have to go.
- JavierVale, hablamos luego.Okay, we'll talk later.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ir, me, que, CC BY-SA 4.0.
