Spanish

Ir

Learn how to say where you are going and talk about simple future plans.

5 min

The idea

Ir means “to go.”

It is essential for getting around and for saying what you are going to do.

Ir in the present

01voyboyI go02vasyou go03vahe, she or you formal goes04vamosBAH-moswe go05vaisyou all go, Spain06vanthey or you all go

Say where you are going

01Voy a casa.I’m going home.02Voy al centroboy al THEN-troh.I’m going downtown.03Vamos a la playa.We’re going to the beach.04¿Vas al supermercado?Are you going to the supermarket?

Contraction

“A + el” becomes “al.”

Voy a el centro becomes Voy al centro. But a + la stays separate: Voy a la playa.

Ir + a + infinitive means “going to do something.”

01Voy a comerboy ah koh-MEHR.I’m going to eat.02Voy a salir.I’m going to go out.03Vamos a tomar algo.We’re going to have a drink.04¿Qué vas a hacer?keh bahs ah ah-THEHRWhat are you going to do?

Ir can describe movement or a near-future plan.

Movement

Voy al centro.I’m going downtown.

Plan

Voy a cenar.I’m going to have dinner.

Useful plans in Valencia

01Voy a la playa.I’m going to the beach.02Voy a tomar un café.I’m going to have a coffee.03Vamos a cenar.We’re going to have dinner.04Voy a volver a casa.I’m going to return home.

Remember this

Voy a… gives you both movement and future plans.

Voy al centro tells where you are going. Voy a comer tells what you are going to do.

Lesson complete

Reviewed 2026-09-07

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