voy
/ˈboi/
voy is the Spanish way to say 'I go' or 'I am going'.
voy is the first-person singular present form of the verb ir. While it literally means 'I go', it is frequently used in many contexts to mean 'I'm leaving' or 'I'm on my way' when responding to another person.
Which one should you use?
While voy is the standard, you might encounter other ways to express 'I am going' depending on the situation. me dirijo is a formal alternative, me piro is slang and me estoy largando is an informal way to say 'I am leaving'.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The slang expression me piro is used in some regions, particularly in Spain.
How does it change in a sentence?
To express the near future, use the construction voy a followed by an infinitive to say 'I am going to [do something]'.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈboi/
Did you know?
- Even though ir is the common verb for 'to go', the word voy actually comes from a completely different Latin verb, vadere, which means 'to wade' or 'to go'.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, if someone calls your name from another room, you answer ¡Voy! even if you are not yet moving. It functions as a verbal acknowledgement similar to 'Coming!' in English.
- In certain contexts, saying ¡Ya voy! can be used sarcastically to indicate that the speaker is actually taking their time and will not be there immediately.
Examples in context
- Señorita, voy a su oficina para entregarle el informe.Miss, I am going to your office to deliver the report.
- Chicos, ya me voy a casa.Guys, I'm leaving for home now.
- Voy al supermercado ahora.I am going to the supermarket now.
- Voy a la biblioteca con mis amigos.I am going to the library with my friends.
- No voy a esa fiesta hoy.I am not going to that party today.
Example conversation
Daniel and Sofía are deciding where to eat.
- DanielTengo hambre, voy al café.I'm hungry, I'm going to the café.
- Sofía¿Quieres que te acompañe, Daniel?Do you want me to accompany you, Daniel?
- DanielSí, voy muy lento hoy.Yes, I'm going very slowly today.
- SofíaEstá bien, vamos juntos.That's fine, let's go together.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry voy, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries voy, CC BY-SA 4.0.
