vete
/bete/from spelling rules
vete is the Spanish phrase for go away or get out.
vete is a command used to tell someone to leave a place. You can expand this to vete de aquí to say get out of here.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
vete is an informal command that can sound blunt, dismissive or angry depending on your tone. For formal situations or when speaking to older individuals, you should use Retírese or Por favor, váyase instead.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, you might hear márchate or vete de una vez to convey the idea of go away. In Latin America, particularly in Mexico, lárgate de aquí and vete de acá are used to express go away, while váyase, por favor is also a common way to say go away.
How does it change in a sentence?
vete is the imperative (command) form of the reflexive verb irse used for the second person singular informal tú.
How do you pronounce it?
/bete/
Did you know?
- In some regions, vete can be used in a playful or flirtatious way if the tone is soft, similar to telling someone 'go on then' or 'get out of here' in a teasing manner.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, saying vete while pointing a finger towards the door is considered a much more aggressive and insulting gesture than the word itself.
- Because vete comes from the reflexive verb irse, it literally describes the person 'moving themselves' away, reflecting a linguistic pattern where departure is viewed as an action performed on oneself.
Examples in context
- ¡Vete de mi casa ahora!Get out of my house now!
- No quiero verte, vete.I don't want to see you, go away.
- Vete si no vas a ayudar.Leave if you are not going to help.
Example conversation
Mateo and Lucía are having a heated argument in a park.
- Mateo¡Estoy muy enfadado contigo!I am very angry with you!
- LucíaLo siento, Mateo.I am sorry, Mateo.
- Mateo¡No me importa, vete!I don't care, go away!
- LucíaEstá bien, me voy.Fine, I am leaving.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
