tenemos que irnos
/tenemos ke iɾnos/from spelling rules
The English phrase "we need to go" is translated into Spanish as tenemos que irnos.
This phrase is used to say that it is time for the speakers to leave a place.
Which one should you use?
You can say nos tenemos que ir by placing the reflexive pronoun nos at the beginning of the phrase instead of attached to the end of the verb. While tenemos que irnos specifically means to depart or leave, using the form tenemos que ir changes the meaning to a more general "we need to go" (to a destination).
How does it change in a sentence?
To change the subject from "we" to "you" (singular, informal), change tenemos que irnos to tienes que irte.
How do you pronounce it?
/tenemos ke iɾnos/
Did you know?
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, saying tenemos que irnos begins la despedida, a prolonged goodbye where guests may spend another fifteen to thirty minutes chatting and hugging before actually exiting.
- While tenemos que irnos is a literal translation, saying me tengo que ir (I have to go) is often more polite in social settings because it does not imply that everyone else must leave too.
- The word que in this phrase is a cognate with the English word 'who', as both trace their roots back to the same ancient Proto-Indo-European source.
Examples in context
- Necesitamos irnos ahora para llegar a tiempo a la reunión.We need to go now to arrive on time for the meeting.
- Es necesario que nos vayamos, el evento ya está por terminar.It is necessary that we go, the event is about to end.
- ¡Ya es tarde! Tenemos que irnos para no perder el autobús.It's already late! We need to go to catch the bus.
- ¡La película ya va a empezar! Hay que marcharnos ahora mismo.The movie is about to start! We need to go right now.
- Es tarde, tenemos que irnos.It is late, we need to go.
- Ya es tarde, tenemos que irnos.It is already late, we need to go.
- Tenemos que irnos antes de la lluvia.We need to go before the rain starts.
Example conversation
Lucía and Alejandro are at a party and realize they are late.
- LucíaAlejandro, ya es muy tarde.Alejandro, it is very late.
- AlejandroTienes razón, tenemos que irnos.You are right, we need to go.
- Lucía¿Llevamos las llaves?Are we taking the keys?
- AlejandroSí, vamos saliendo.Yes, let's head out.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries que, CC BY-SA 4.0.
