Which one should you use?
While me quiero ir a casa is the standard form, you may encounter variations. Quiero irme a casa means "I want to leave for home," while Me quiero ir para mi casa is a colloquial way to say "I wanna head towards my house." Additionally, the phrase me quiero ir can stand alone to mean "I want to leave."
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, you might hear Quiero volver a casa to mean "I want to return home" or Quiero marcharme a casa to mean "I want to leave for home." In Mexico, common phrases include Quiero regresar a casa for "I want to go back home" and Quiero irme para mi casa for "I want to leave for my house."
How does it change in a sentence?
The reflexive pronoun me is flexible in its placement. It can be placed at the front of the conjugated verb, as in me quiero ir a casa or moved to the end of the infinitive verb, such as in quiero irme a casa. In many dialects, it is also common to omit the reflexive pronoun entirely, resulting in quiero ir a casa.
Did you know?
- If you use the past tense to say 'I went', you are using a word fui that is etymologically a 'cousin' to the verb 'to be'. It is derived from the Latin esse, meaning 'to be', rather than from the verb for 'to go'.
- In certain regions, if someone tells you andá, they are not actually using the verb ir at all. They are using a command form of the verb andar, which means 'to walk'.
- The word casa originally referred to a 'cottage' or a small hut in Latin, rather than a grand building. It is surprising to think that your modern home shares an etymological root with a tiny, humble shelter.
Examples in context
- Estoy cansado de este largo día de trabajo, quiero ir a casa.I'm tired of this long day at work, I want to go home.
- Después de tantos días aquí, me gustaría regresar a casa.After so many days here, I would like to go back home.
- ¡Ha sido un día largo de diversión! Ahora quiero irme a casa.It's been a long day of fun! Now I wanna go home.
- Gracias por invitarme, pero ya me quiero ir para mi casa.Thanks for inviting me, but I wanna head towards my house now.
- Estoy muy cansada, me quiero ir a casa.I am very tired, I want to go home.
- Ya es tarde, me quiero ir a casa.It is late already, I want to go home.
- No me gusta esta fiesta, me quiero ir a casa.I do not like this party, I want to go home.
Example conversation
Elena and Daniel are at a loud social gathering.
- ElenaDaniel, hay mucha gente y me quiero ir a casa.Daniel, there are many people and I want to go home.
- Daniel¿Estás bien, Elena? ¿Te sientes mal?Are you okay, Elena? Do you feel unwell?
- ElenaSí, solo tengo sueño y me quiero ir a casa.Yes, I am just sleepy and I want to go home.
- DanielEstá bien, te acompaño a buscar un taxi.Alright, I will go with you to find a taxi.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries a, casa, ir, me, CC BY-SA 4.0.
