quiero ir a
/kjeɾo iɾ a/from spelling rules
The phrase quiero ir a means "I want to go to" in Spanish.
This phrase is used to express a desire to travel to or visit a specific destination.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of quiero (I want), ir (to go) and a (to).
Which one should you use?
Use quiero ir a to describe movement toward a destination, whereas quiero estar en would mean "I want to be in" a destination.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase quiero ir a is followed by a destination, which can be a proper noun such as a city or country or a noun phrase like la playa.
How do you pronounce it?
/kjeɾo iɾ a/
Did you know?
- If you want to say 'I went' instead of 'I want to go', you use the word fui, which actually originates from the Latin verb 'to be' rather than 'to go'.
- While quiero ir a expresses a wish, Spanish speakers often use the conditional quisiera ir a to sound more polite or tentative, similar to saying 'I would like to go to' in English.
- In some regions, if you are telling someone to 'go' as a command, you might use andá, a form derived from the verb andar, which specifically means 'to walk'.
Examples in context
- Quiero ir a Bali.I want to go to Bali.This sentence is useful for practicing the phrase quiero ir a with a destination.Tatoeba #5043017 by don_ramon, translation #4218086 by Hybrid
- Quiero ir a Kioto.I want to go to Kyoto.Tatoeba #630780 by Leono, translation #378543 by saeb
- Quiero ir a Japón.I want to go to Japan.Tatoeba #961277 by Shishir, translation #961171 by Adou_Fr
- Quisiera ir a la conferencia en Madrid.I would like to go to the conference in Madrid.
- Quiero ir a la playa este fin de semana.I want to go to the beach this weekend.
- Quiero ir a la discoteca.I want to go to the nightclub.
- Quiero ir al Perú.I want to go to Peru.
- 70 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Alejandro and María are talking about their vacation plans at home.
- AlejandroMaría, ¿a dónde quieres viajar este año?María, where do you want to travel this year?
- MaríaQuiero ir a Italia este verano.I want to go to Italy this summer.
- Alejandro¡Qué bueno! Yo también quiero ir a Europa.That's great! I want to go to Europe too.
- MaríaPodemos planear el viaje juntos.We can plan the trip together.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries a, ir, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
