Quiero invitarte a salir
/kjeɾo imbitaɾte a saliɾ/from spelling rules
In Spanish, 'I want to take you out' is expressed as Quiero invitarte a salir.
This phrase is used to ask someone to go on a date. While the English 'take you out' can sometimes imply a physical movement or a more aggressive tone, the Spanish expression focuses on the act of 'inviting' and is the standard way to express interest in a date.
What does it mean word for word?
Literally, the phrase means 'I want to invite you to go out'.
Which one should you use?
You may also see the pronoun 'te' placed at the beginning of the sentence as Te quiero invitar a salir without any change in meaning.
How does it change in a sentence?
In the form Quiero invitarte a salir, the 'te' in 'invitarte' is the object pronoun meaning 'you' and it is attached to the end of the infinitive 'invitar'.
How do you pronounce it?
/kjeɾo imbitaɾte a saliɾ/
Did you know?
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, using the verb invitar carries a strong social contract that you will be the one paying the bill.
- While salir means 'to go out' in a romantic context, it is also the primary verb used to describe the sun rising, as in el sol sale.
- The verb salir is a distant cognate of the English word 'sally', as in a 'sally port' or a sudden military charge, both derived from the idea of 'leaping out'.
Examples in context
- Quiero invitarte a salir este fin de semana.I want to take you out this weekend.
- Te lo he dicho, quiero invitarte a salir.I've told you, I want to take you out.
Example conversation
Sofía is talking to Daniel at a quiet cafe.
- SofíaDaniel, quiero invitarte a salir un día de estos.Daniel, I want to take you out some day soon.
- Daniel¿De verdad? Me encantaría ir contigo.Really? I would love to go with you.
- SofíaEntonces, ¿te parece bien el viernes por la noche?Then, does Friday night work for you?
- DanielPerfecto, estaré listo para nuestra cita.Perfect, I will be ready for our date.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries a, salir, CC BY-SA 4.0.
