What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the verb salir, which literally means "to go out" or "to leave" and conmigo, which is a contraction of the preposition con (with) and the pronoun mí (me).
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
¿Quieres salir conmigo? is an informal way to ask someone out, suitable for peers or people your age because it uses the "tú" form. For more formal situations, you can use ¿Le gustaría salir conmigo? to politely ask if someone would like to go out with you or Quisiera invitarlo/a a una cita to express the desire to invite someone on a date. In informal settings, if you want a slightly more polished option, you may use Me gustaría tener una cita contigo.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Argentina, you might hear the informal phrase ¿Querés ser mi novio/a? to ask "Do you want to be my boyfriend/girlfriend?"
Did you know?
- The word conmigo is a linguistic fossil that contains a hidden 'with' because it stems from the Latin 'cum mecum', which literally meant 'with me with'.
- The word cita used in formal invitations refers not only to a romantic date but also to a professional appointment or a legal summons.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, if you ask ¿Quieres salir conmigo?, the person might respond by asking ¿A dónde? (To where?) rather than a simple 'yes' or 'no'.
Examples in context
- Hola, ¿le gustaría salir conmigo a tomar un café este fin de semana?Hello, would you like to go out with me to have a coffee this weekend?
- Sé que te gusto, ¿quieres salir conmigo?I know you like me, do you want to go out with me?
Example conversation
María is talking to Alejandro at a coffee shop.
- MaríaAlejandro, ¿quieres salir conmigo?Alejandro, do you want to go out with me?
- AlejandroMe encantaría, María.I would love to, María.
- María¿Te parece bien el sábado?Does Saturday work for you?
- AlejandroPerfecto, te veo el sábado.Perfect, I will see you on Saturday.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries conmigo, salir, CC BY-SA 4.0.
