me tengo que ir a la cama
/me tenɡo ke iɾ a la kama/from spelling rules
In Spanish, "I have to go to bed" is said as me tengo que ir a la cama.
This phrase is used to say that it is time for the speaker to sleep.
Which one should you use?
Using ir a la cama (to go to the bed) sounds slightly more formal or specific to the physical act of moving to the bed, whereas me tengo que acostar uses the verb acostarse (to lie down/go to bed), which is the standard verb for the act of retiring for the night. Additionally, Tengo que irme a dormir can be used in an informal context to indicate you have to call it a night.
How does it change in a sentence?
The reflexive pronoun 'me' can be attached to the end of the infinitive 'ir' as 'irme' instead of being placed at the beginning of the sentence.
Did you know?
Examples in context
- Me tengo que ir a la cama.I have to go to bed.This sentence is useful for expressing the need to go to bed using me tengo que ir a la cama.Tatoeba #2601 by Shishir, translation #1395 by brauliobezerra
- Mañana madrugo, así que me tengo que ir a la cama.I have to get up early tomorrow, so I have to go to bed.
- Ya es muy tarde y me tengo que ir a la cama.It is already very late and I have to go to bed.
Example conversation
Alejandro and Sofía are finishing a late night phone call.
- AlejandroSofía, me tengo que ir a la cama ahora.Sofía, I have to go to bed now.
- SofíaEstá bien, Alejandro, descansa mucho.All right, Alejandro, get plenty of rest.
- AlejandroGracias, nos hablamos mañana.Thanks, we will talk tomorrow.
- SofíaBuenas noches, hasta mañana.Good night, see you tomorrow.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries a, cama, ir, la, me, que, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
