What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of te (you), voy a (I am going to) and extrañar (to miss).
Which one should you use?
While extrañar is the standard verb for "to miss" in Latin America, the construction echar de menos is the standard in Spain.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some parts of Latin America, people may say Voy a extrañarte instead of Te voy a extrañar to convey the same meaning.
How does it change in a sentence?
If you are speaking to someone in a formal context or to an elder, replace te with lo (masculine) or la (feminine), such as in lo voy a extrañar. You can also use the simple future tense extrañaré instead of the ir a + infinitive construction, as in te extrañaré (I will miss you). In Spain, the phrase echar de menos is more commonly used than extrañar, such as in te voy a echar de menos.
When do people say it?
If you want to express a deeper feeling of missing someone in an informal way, you can add mucho to the phrase: Te voy a extrañar mucho.
Did you know?
- The verb extrañar shares a root with the English word 'strange'. It comes from the Latin word for 'outside' or 'foreign', implying that the person you miss feels like a 'stranger' or an outsider in your life once they are gone.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, instead of just saying 'I will miss you', people often use the verb hacer to say me vas a hacer falta, which literally translates to 'you are going to be a lack to me'.
- While 'extrañar' is common in the Americas, if you use it in Spain, you might sound like you are saying you will 'find someone strange' or 'be surprised by them' rather than expressing affection.
Examples in context
- Te voy a extrañar.I am going to miss you.This example is useful for seeing the phrase te voy a extrañar in use.Tatoeba #1246313 by marcelostockle, translation #431891 by jerom
- Voy a echar de menos trabajar contigo.I am going to miss working with you.
- Te voy a extrañar un montón, amigo.I am going to miss you a lot, buddy.
- Voy a echarte de menos cuando te vayas de vacaciones.I am going to miss you when you go on vacation.
- Te voy a extrañar mucho, hermanita.I am going to miss you a lot, little sister.
- Te voy a extrañar mucho en la escuela.I am going to miss you a lot at school.
- Sé que te voy a extrañar durante el viaje.I know I am going to miss you during the trip.
Example conversation
Daniel is leaving for a long work trip and says goodbye to Lucía.
- LucíaTen mucho cuidado en tu viaje, Daniel.Take great care on your trip, Daniel.
- DanielGracias, Lucía. Volveré muy pronto.Thanks, Lucía. I will be back very soon.
- LucíaLo sé, pero te voy a extrañar.I know, but I am going to miss you.
- DanielYo también te voy a extrañar a ti.I am going to miss you too.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries a, extrañar, te, voy, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
