solía ir
/solia iɾ/from spelling rules
The Spanish phrase for "I used to go" is solía ir.
This phrase is used to describe repetitive or habitual actions in the past that have since ceased.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the imperfect indicative of the verb soler (to be accustomed to or to use to) and the infinitive ir (to go).
Which one should you use?
While solía ir explicitly emphasizes the habit, the imperfect form of the verb ir (iba) can also be used to express the same "used to go" meaning in many contexts.
Did you know?
- The verb ir is a linguistic mosaic, combining roots from Latin īre, vādere and esse to form its different tenses.
- If you are in certain regions and want to command someone to 'go', you might hear andá instead of a form of ir. This comes from the verb andar, meaning 'to walk'.
- Depending on the country, using solía ir can sound more formal or literary, whereas iba is the standard choice for daily conversation in many Latin American dialects.
Examples in context
- Yo solía ir a la escuela.I used to go to school.This sentence shows how to use solía ir to describe a past routine like going to school.Tatoeba #2707053 by cueyayotl, translation #2684403 by CK
- Solía ir al colegio con él.I used to go to school with him.This sentence demonstrates using solía ir to describe a past habit of going to school with someone else.Tatoeba #2099904 by marcelostockle, translation #260201 by CK
- De pequeño solía ir a pescar.As a boy, I used to go fishing.This sentence uses solía ir to describe a childhood habit of going fishing.Tatoeba #7815059 by diegohn, translation #257971 by CK
- Solía ir al cine los domingos.I used to go to the cinema on Sundays.
- Solía ir a las reuniones importantes en representación de la empresa, si me lo permitían.I used to go to important meetings on behalf of the company, if allowed.
- 9 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sofía and Alejandro are talking about their old hobbies.
- Sofía¿Todavía practicas natación?Do you still practice swimming?
- AlejandroNo, yo solía ir a la piscina cada semana.No, I used to go to the pool every week.
- Sofía¡Qué lástima, Alejandro!What a shame, Alejandro!
- AlejandroSí, pero ahora no tengo tiempo.Yes, but now I don't have time.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ir, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
