voy
/ˈboi/
voy is the Spanish way to say "I go".
voy is used to state that the speaker is moving from one place to another. In a conversational context, you can say just voy to mean "I'm coming" or "I'm on my way" if someone is calling you to join them.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form voy can express both the simple present "I go" and the present continuous "I am going". When you want to express an intention to perform an action in the near future, use voy a followed by an infinitive (for example, "I am going to [do something]"). voy is the first-person singular form of the verb Ir.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈboi/
Did you know?
- While English speakers say 'I'm coming' when moving toward someone who called them, Spanish speakers say voy, which literally means 'I go'. In Spanish, the perspective is based on leaving your current spot rather than arriving at the destination.
- In some Spanish-speaking cultures, saying ya voy (I'm going now) is often used as a polite way to signal that you have heard a request, even if you do not intend to move for several more minutes.
- While the modern verb for 'to go' is ir, the word voy actually comes from the Latin verb vadere, which means 'to go' or 'to walk'.
Examples in context
- Yo voy a Kioto.I go to Kyoto.This sentence shows how to use voy to indicate a destination.Tatoeba #1247696 by marcelostockle, translation #252233 by CN
- Voy a San Pablo.I go to San Pablo.This sentence demonstrates the use of voy for a destination.Tatoeba #2911755 by hayastan, translation #5109650 by argentum
- Voy a la escuela.I go to school.Tatoeba #473450 by Shishir, translation #472089 by tamsanh
- Me voy ahora mismoI'm leaving right now
- 147 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Elena and Mateo are at home getting ready to leave.
- ElenaYa voy al supermercado.I am going to the supermarket now.
- Mateo¿Quieres que te acompañe, Elena?Do you want me to go with you, Elena?
- ElenaNo, voy sola hoy.No, I am going alone today.
- MateoEstá bien, nos vemos luego.That is fine, see you later.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry voy, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries voy, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
