allá voy
/aʝa boi/from spelling rules
The English phrase 'here I go' can be translated into Spanish as allá voy.
Allá voy is used when someone is about to start a task or move toward a destination. It is an informal expression.
What does it mean word for word?
Literally, allá voy translates to 'there I go' rather than 'here I go'.
Which one should you use?
You may also use aquí voy! to convey 'here I go'. If you are embarking on an activity with other people, you can use allá vamos! to mean 'there we go' or 'here we go'.
Did you know?
- While allá voy focuses on the destination, Spanish speakers might use ya voy to mean 'I am coming', even though voy literally means 'I go'.
- The root of the verb in allá voy is the same Latin verb, vadere, that gave English the word 'evade'.
- Spanish has a distinct spatial logic where allá refers to a place far from both the speaker and the listener, making the phrase 'there I go' a way of acknowledging a distance to be crossed.
Example conversation
Elena is about to jump into a swimming pool.
- Elena¡Allá voy!Here I go!
- Alejandro¡Ten cuidado, Elena!Be careful, Elena!
- ElenaNo te preocupes, Alejandro.Don't worry, Alejandro.
- Alejandro¡Suerte con el salto!Good luck with the jump!
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries allá, voy, CC BY-SA 4.0.
