Hi, I’m Kodak.
English commonly uses the verb “to leave” in all of the following sentences:
I’m leaving now.
The train leaves at eight.
She left home permanently.
We went out for dinner.
I have to leave.
Spanish does not always use the same verb in these situations.
Two of the most important verbs are:
to go out, come out, exit, or depart
irse
to leave, go away, or depart from the place where someone is
These verbs overlap, but they view the action from different angles.
Salir often focuses on crossing from the inside of a place to the outside or beginning a journey from a particular point.
Irse often focuses on leaving a place behind and no longer being there.
This difference becomes especially important when you want to say:
I’m leaving.
I’m going now.
I’m off.
In this article, we will examine salir vs. irse from a beginner’s point of view.
Both salir and irse can mean “to leave.”
What is the easiest way to separate them?
Ask what the sentence emphasizes.
Salir emphasizes going out of a place or departing from it.
Irse emphasizes going away and no longer remaining there.
- 1 Salir vs. Irse: The Quick Answer
- 2 The Core Image of Salir
- 3 The Core Image of Irse
- 4 Salir vs. Irse Comparison Table
- 5 Use Salir to Go from Inside to Outside
- 6 Use Irse When the Important Point Is That Someone Leaves
- 7 The Same Departure with Salir and Irse
- 8 What Does Me Voy Mean?
- 9 Voy vs. Me Voy
- 10 Salgo vs. Me Voy
- 11 Salir de Casa vs. Irse de Casa
- 12 Leaving a Party: Salir de la Fiesta vs. Irse de la Fiesta
- 13 Using Me Voy When Saying Goodbye
- 14 Me Tengo Que Ir Meaning
- 15 Prepositions with Salir
- 16 Prepositions with Irse
- 17 Use Salir for Trains, Buses, Flights, and Ships
- 18 Salir Meaning: To Go Out Socially
- 19 Salir con Alguien: Go Out with or Date Someone
- 20 Salir Meaning: To Turn Out
- 21 Salir Meaning: To Come Out, Appear, or Be Released
- 22 Irse Can Suggest Abandoning a Place or Situation
- 23 Irse vs. Marcharse
- 24 Salir vs. Salirse
- 25 Present-Tense Conjugation of Salir
- 26 Present-Tense Conjugation of Irse
- 27 Commands: Sal, Vete, Vamos, and Vámonos
- 28 Salir vs. Irse Examples Side by Side
- 29 Common Beginner Mistakes
- 29.1 Mistake 1: Using Salir for Every English “Leave”
- 29.2 Mistake 2: Forgetting the Pronoun in Irse
- 29.3 Mistake 3: Saying Yo Me Ir
- 29.4 Mistake 4: Confusing Me Voy with Me Fui
- 29.5 Mistake 5: Using Irse for a Train Schedule
- 29.6 Mistake 6: Confusing Salir with Salirse
- 29.7 Mistake 7: Translating Salir con as Leave With
- 29.8 Mistake 8: Forgetting That Salir Has Non-Movement Meanings
- 30 Practice: Choose Salir or Irse
- 31 Frequently Asked Questions About Salir vs. Irse
- 31.1 What is the difference between salir and irse?
- 31.2 What does me voy mean?
- 31.3 How do you say “I am leaving” in Spanish?
- 31.4 What is the difference between voy and me voy?
- 31.5 What is the difference between salgo and me voy?
- 31.6 What does me tengo que ir mean?
- 31.7 What is the difference between salir de casa and irse de casa?
- 31.8 Which verb is used for trains and flights?
- 31.9 How do you say “let’s leave” in Spanish?
- 31.10 Does salir mean “to date”?
- 31.11 Is salirse the same as salir?
- 31.12 Is irse always permanent?
- 32 Salir vs. Irse: Final Summary
- 33 Related Guide
Salir vs. Irse: The Quick Answer
Salir
Focus: moving from inside to outside or departing from a specific place
Salí de la oficina a las seis.
I left the office at six.
El tren sale a las ocho.
The train leaves at eight.
Irse
Focus: going away, ending one’s presence, or leaving a situation behind
Me voy ahora.
I’m leaving now.
Se fue sin despedirse.
He or she left without saying goodbye.
The basic memory rule is:
Out of a place
Focus on the doorway, boundary, origin, or departure
Irse
Away from the situation
Focus on the person leaving and no longer being present
Compare:
Juan salió de la habitación.
Juan went out of the room.
Juan se fue.
Juan left.
Juan went away.
The first sentence tells us that Juan crossed out of the room.
The second tells us that Juan stopped being present, without necessarily identifying the physical boundary he crossed.
Can I memorize salir = go out and irse = go away?
Yes. That is an excellent starting point.
The verbs overlap because going out of a place often means going away from it.
The difference is mainly what the speaker chooses to emphasize.
The Core Image of Salir
Salir comes from the Latin verb salire, associated with jumping, springing, or coming forth.
Its most useful core image is:
Crossing from an inside, hidden, contained, or starting position to the outside.
This explains the physical meaning:
Salió de la casa.
He or she went out of the house.
It also explains several related meanings:
go out socially
appear or come out
be published or released
turn out in a particular way
come off or be removed
begin a journey
Something that was inside, hidden, contained, undecided, or not yet visible becomes external or apparent.
Does salir always require a building or physical container?
No.
The boundary can be physical, social, temporal, or figurative.
A person can leave a room, a train can depart, a movie can come out, and a plan can turn out well.
The Core Image of Irse
Irse is the pronominal form of ir, meaning “to go.”
The pronoun does not simply mean “oneself” in a literal English sense.
In this common use, it helps present the person as departing or removing themselves from the current place or situation.
Ending one’s presence here and going away toward another place or situation.
Me voy.
I’m leaving.
Nos fuimos temprano.
We left early.
¿Por qué te vas?
Why are you leaving?
The important information is that the person will no longer remain in the current setting.
Is irse a reflexive verb meaning “to go oneself”?
It is a pronominal verb, but translating the pronoun as “oneself” is not helpful here.
Learn irse as a complete verb meaning “leave” or “go away.”
Me voy naturally means “I’m leaving,” not “I go myself.”
Salir vs. Irse Comparison Table
| Situation | Typical verb | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Go out of a room or building | salir | Salió de la habitación. |
| Announce that you are leaving | irse | Me voy. |
| Leave a place at a specific time | salir / irse | Salí de la oficina a las seis. |
| Leave without saying goodbye | irse | Se fue sin despedirse. |
| Train, bus, or flight departs | salir | El tren sale a las ocho. |
| Go out socially | salir | Salimos esta noche. |
| Leave home to live elsewhere | irse de casa | Se fue de casa a los veinte años. |
| Go out of the house temporarily | salir de casa | Salí de casa a las nueve. |
| A movie or product is released | salir | La película sale en mayo. |
| A person goes away permanently | irse | Se fue del país. |
The table shows some situations where both verbs are possible.
Does that mean there is no real difference?
There is a difference in viewpoint, even when the real-world event is the same.
Salir describes the act of exiting or departing.
Irse describes the person leaving the situation behind.
Use Salir to Go from Inside to Outside
The clearest use of salir is movement from an interior space to an exterior space.
Sal de la habitación.
Leave the room.
Go out of the room.
El perro salió de la casa.
The dog went out of the house.
Acabo de salir del ascensor.
I have just gotten out of the elevator.
Los estudiantes salieron del aula.
The students left the classroom.
In these sentences, the origin is commonly introduced by de.
salir de casa
leave the house
salir del edificio
leave the building
salir de la habitación
leave the room
If someone leaves a room, can I also say Se fue de la habitación?
Yes, but the focus changes.
Salió de la habitación presents the physical exit.
Se fue de la habitación presents the person as leaving that location behind.
Use Irse When the Important Point Is That Someone Leaves
Use irse when you want to emphasize that a person departs and is no longer present.
Ana se fue temprano.
Ana left early.
Todos se fueron después de la cena.
Everyone left after dinner.
No te vayas todavía.
Don’t leave yet.
Se fue sin decir nada.
He or she left without saying anything.
The place may be obvious from the situation and therefore does not need to be stated.
The sentence answers a question such as:
No. The person se fue.
Does irse need a place after it?
No.
You can simply say Se fue when the place is understood.
The main message is that the person is no longer present.
The Same Departure with Salir and Irse
One event can be described with either verb.
Imagine that Laura leaves the office at six.
Laura left the office at six.
Focus: the time at which she departed from the office.
Laura se fue de la oficina a las seis.
Laura left the office at six.
Focus: Laura stopped being there and went away.
The difference is not always dramatic.
In many everyday contexts, both sentences can describe the same departure.
However, salir more naturally highlights the point of exit or departure, while irse highlights the person’s absence afterward.
Will people misunderstand me if I choose the other verb in an overlapping case?
Usually not.
The sentence may simply emphasize a slightly different part of the event.
The distinction matters most in expressions where only one verb is conventional, such as train schedules or going out socially.
What Does Me Voy Mean?
Me voy is one of the most common ways to say that you are leaving.
I’m leaving.
I’m going now.
I’m off.
I’m going away.
The exact English translation depends on the situation.
Announcing Your Departure
Ya es tarde. Me voy.
It’s late. I’m leaving.
Saying Where You Are Going
Me voy a casa.
I’m going home.
I’m leaving for home.
Expressing a More Permanent Departure
Me voy del país.
I’m leaving the country.
The pronoun changes according to the subject:
te vas — you are leaving
se va — he, she, or you formally are leaving
nos vamos — we are leaving
os vais — you all are leaving in Spain
se van — they or you all are leaving
Does Me voy always sound serious, like I am leaving forever?
No.
It is a completely normal way to announce an everyday departure.
Context tells us whether you are leaving for five minutes, going home, moving away, or ending a relationship.
Voy vs. Me Voy
Voy and me voy both come from ir, but they have different focuses.
I am going to the supermarket.
Focus: the destination or movement toward it.
Me voy al supermercado.
I’m leaving for the supermarket.
I’m off to the supermarket.
Focus: leaving the current location, with the supermarket as the destination.
Voy answers:
Me voy often answers:
Where are you leaving for?
Can Voy al banco and Me voy al banco describe the same trip?
Yes.
Voy al banco neutrally states where you are going.
Me voy al banco sounds more like an announcement that you are leaving now for the bank.
Salgo vs. Me Voy
Salgo and me voy can both relate to leaving, but they are not identical.
I leave the office at five.
Focus: the departure time from the office.
Me voy de la oficina a las cinco.
I leave the office at five.
Focus: I stop being at the office and go away at five.
When announcing an immediate departure, me voy is often more complete and natural on its own:
Bueno, me voy.
Well, I’m leaving.
Ya salgo is also possible, but its meaning depends more heavily on context:
¡Ya salgo!
I’m coming out now!
I’m leaving now!
For example, someone waiting outside may call you, and you can answer ¡Ya salgo!, meaning that you are coming out of the building.
If I am at a party and want to say “I’m leaving,” which one is safer?
Use Me voy.
It naturally announces that you are ending your presence at the party.
Salgo usually benefits from more context about where, when, or why you are going out.
Salir de Casa vs. Irse de Casa
This pair clearly shows how the two verbs can create different implications.
Salir de Casa
Salí de casa a las siete.
I left the house at seven.
This normally describes a physical departure from the house.
The person may return later the same day.
Irse de Casa
Se fue de casa a los dieciocho años.
He or she left home at eighteen.
Depending on context, irse de casa can suggest moving out, leaving the family home, or making a more significant departure.
It does not always mean permanently, but the focus on abandoning the previous situation can create that implication.
physically go out of the house
irse de casa
leave home behind; possibly move out or depart for a significant period
If I say Me fui de casa esta mañana, will people think I moved out?
Context and the time expression matter.
Esta mañana may simply describe leaving home earlier that day.
Without clear context, however, irse de casa can sound more significant than salir de casa.
Leaving a Party: Salir de la Fiesta vs. Irse de la Fiesta
Both verbs can be used, but they present the departure differently.
We left the party at midnight.
Focus: the time and act of departing from the event.
Nos fuimos de la fiesta a medianoche.
We left the party at midnight.
Focus: we stopped participating and went away.
When you announce the departure directly to another guest, irse is especially common:
Nos vamos. Mañana trabajamos temprano.
We’re leaving. We work early tomorrow.
Does Nos vamos mean “we are leaving” or “let’s go”?
It can mean either, depending on context and intonation.
As a statement, it means “we’re leaving.”
As a suggestion or announcement to the group, it can function like “let’s go.”
Using Me Voy When Saying Goodbye
Me voy is frequently followed by a farewell expression.
Bueno, me voy. Hasta mañana.
Well, I’m leaving. See you tomorrow.
Me tengo que ir. Nos vemos.
I have to leave. See you.
Nos vemos is a common casual farewell that literally refers to seeing each other again. For a closer look at its meaning, grammar, and use, read what “nos vemos” means in Spanish.
Other natural farewell combinations include:
I’m leaving. See you later.
Ya me voy. Que descanses.
I’m leaving now. Sleep well.
Nos vamos. Gracias por todo.
We’re leaving. Thanks for everything.
Is saying only Me voy rude?
Not necessarily, but tone matters.
Adding bueno, a reason, thanks, or a farewell can make the departure sound warmer.
For example: Bueno, me voy. Gracias por la cena.
Me Tengo Que Ir Meaning
Another extremely common expression is:
I have to leave.
I have to go.
I need to get going.
This expression uses:
to have to do something
irse
to leave or go away
The pronoun can be placed before the conjugated verb:
Me tengo que ir.
It can also attach to the infinitive:
Tengo que irme.
The two sentences mean the same thing.
Which is more correct: Me tengo que ir or Tengo que irme?
Both are correct and natural.
With an infinitive construction, the unstressed pronoun can normally appear before the conjugated verb or attach to the infinitive.
The meaning does not change here.
Prepositions with Salir
The preposition after salir helps identify the origin, destination, or purpose.
Salir de — Leave or Come Out of
Salí del trabajo a las cinco.
I left work at five.
Salir a — Go Out to Do Something
Salimos a cenar.
We went out for dinner.
Voy a salir a caminar.
I’m going out for a walk.
Salir para — Leave for a Destination
Salimos para Madrid mañana.
We leave for Madrid tomorrow.
Salir hacia — Set Out Toward
El barco salió hacia el norte.
The ship departed toward the north.
Salir con — Go Out with or Date
Salgo con mis amigos los viernes.
I go out with my friends on Fridays.
Está saliendo con Laura.
He or she is dating Laura.
Why does salir a cenar use a, but salir de casa uses de?
De introduces the place you exit or leave.
A + infinitive commonly introduces the activity you go out to perform.
Compare “out of the house” with “out to eat.”
Prepositions with Irse
Irse can mention either the place being left or the destination.
Irse de — Leave a Place or Situation
Me voy de la oficina.
I am leaving the office.
Se fue del país.
He or she left the country.
Irse a — Leave for a Destination
Me voy a casa.
I’m going home.
Se fueron a México.
They left for Mexico.
They went to Mexico.
Irse para — Head Off Toward a Destination
Me voy para casa.
I’m heading home.
The frequency and nuance of para can vary by region, but it commonly emphasizes direction toward the destination.
I am leaving Madrid.
Focus: origin
Me voy a Madrid.
I am leaving for Madrid.
Focus: destination
The difference between de and a completely changes the direction, doesn’t it?
Exactly.
Irse de Madrid means Madrid is the place being left.
Irse a Madrid means Madrid is the destination.
Use Salir for Trains, Buses, Flights, and Ships
Use salir when saying that scheduled transportation departs.
El tren sale a las ocho.
The train leaves at eight.
¿De qué puerta sale el vuelo?
Which gate does the flight depart from?
El autobús ya ha salido.
The bus has already left.
Nuestro barco sale mañana por la mañana.
Our ship leaves tomorrow morning.
Here, the focus is the vehicle’s departure from its origin.
Irse is not normally used as the neutral verb for a published train or flight departure time.
Can I say El tren se va a las ocho?
It may occur conversationally, especially when personifying the train’s departure.
For a neutral schedule, however, El tren sale a las ocho is the standard beginner pattern.
Salir Meaning: To Go Out Socially
Salir commonly means to go out for entertainment, food, drinks, or another social activity.
¿Quieres salir esta noche?
Do you want to go out tonight?
Los sábados salimos con amigos.
On Saturdays, we go out with friends.
No salgo mucho últimamente.
I haven’t been going out much lately.
Vamos a salir a tomar algo.
We’re going out for a drink.
Using irse instead would emphasize leaving the current place, not participating in a social outing.
We’re going out tonight.
Esta noche nos vamos.
We’re leaving tonight.
So Salimos esta noche could mean a fun night out, while Nos vamos esta noche means we depart tonight?
Exactly.
Salir has an established social meaning.
Irse communicates that you are leaving the current place or situation.
Salir con Alguien: Go Out with or Date Someone
Salir con alguien can have two related meanings.
Go Out Socially with Someone
Salgo con mis compañeros después del trabajo.
I go out with my coworkers after work.
Date Someone
Marta está saliendo con Daniel.
Marta is dating Daniel.
Context determines whether the relationship is simply social or romantic.
Irse con alguien has a different meaning:
Marta se fue con Daniel.
Marta left with Daniel.
go out with or date Daniel
irse con Daniel
leave together with Daniel
Could Se fue con Daniel mean she started dating him?
Not by itself.
It normally means she physically left together with Daniel.
For dating, use sale con Daniel or está saliendo con Daniel.
Salir Meaning: To Turn Out
Salir can describe the result of an action, event, product, photograph, or plan.
Todo salió bien.
Everything went well.
Everything turned out well.
La foto salió borrosa.
The photo came out blurry.
El pastel no salió como esperaba.
The cake did not turn out as I expected.
El examen me salió mal.
The exam went badly for me.
This use keeps the broad image of a final result emerging or becoming visible.
Irse cannot replace salir in this result construction.
Does Todo salió bien literally mean everything went outside well?
No. It is an established figurative use.
The final result “came out” well.
Learn salir bien and salir mal as common expressions meaning “turn out well or badly.”
Salir Meaning: To Come Out, Appear, or Be Released
Salir can describe something becoming visible or available.
The Sun Comes Out
Ha salido el sol.
The sun has come out.
A Product or Movie Is Released
El nuevo teléfono sale en septiembre.
The new phone comes out in September.
¿Cuándo sale la película?
When does the movie come out?
A Name or Number Appears
Su nombre salió en la lista.
Her name appeared on the list.
Again, something previously hidden, unavailable, or unknown becomes visible.
Irse Can Suggest Abandoning a Place or Situation
Because irse focuses on ending one’s presence, it can sound emotionally stronger in some contexts.
Se fue de la empresa después de diez años.
He or she left the company after ten years.
Quiero irme de esta ciudad.
I want to leave this city.
No puedo creer que te vayas.
I can’t believe you’re leaving.
The speaker may be thinking about separation, absence, or a major life change.
However, the verb itself does not guarantee permanence.
Me voy cinco minutos.
I’m leaving for five minutes.
Is irse always more emotional than salir?
No.
It is often a neutral everyday verb.
It only becomes emotional when the context makes the person’s absence or separation important.
Irse vs. Marcharse
Marcharse is another common verb meaning “to leave” or “go away.”
Me voy.
I’m leaving.
Me marcho.
I’m leaving.
In many contexts, they are close in meaning.
Irse is extremely common and neutral across the Spanish-speaking world.
Marcharse can sound slightly more explicit or deliberate, and its frequency varies by region.
For beginners, irse is the most essential verb to master.
Should I use marcharse instead of irse in formal situations?
Not necessarily.
Irse is not inherently informal.
Politeness depends more on the complete sentence, tone, and farewell than on choosing marcharse.
Salir vs. Salirse
Do not automatically add a reflexive pronoun to salir.
Salirse has several special meanings that differ from ordinary salir.
Move Outside a Limit or Route
El coche se salió de la carretera.
The car went off the road.
Overflow or Leak Out
La leche se salió de la olla.
The milk overflowed from the pot.
Deviate from a Subject or Rule
Nos estamos saliendo del tema.
We are going off topic.
Compare:
He or she departed from the road.
The exact interpretation depends on context.
Se salió de la carretera.
He or she went off the road, leaving its proper course.
Can I say Me salgo whenever I mean “I’m leaving”?
Not as a general replacement for me voy.
Salirse often implies leaving a boundary, group, route, rule, or expected position.
For a normal departure announcement, say Me voy.
Present-Tense Conjugation of Salir
Salir is irregular in the first-person singular.
| Subject | Salir |
|---|---|
| yo | salgo |
| tú | sales |
| él / ella / usted | sale |
| nosotros / nosotras | salimos |
| vosotros / vosotras | salís |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | salen |
Other useful forms include:
salido — gone out or left
salí — I went out or left
salió — he, she, or you formally went out
salieron — they or you all went out
Present-Tense Conjugation of Irse
Irse combines the irregular forms of ir with a pronoun.
| Subject | Irse |
|---|---|
| yo | me voy |
| tú | te vas |
| él / ella / usted | se va |
| nosotros / nosotras | nos vamos |
| vosotros / vosotras | os vais |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | se van |
The preterite forms are:
te fuiste — you left
se fue — he, she, or you formally left
nos fuimos — we left
os fuisteis — you all left in Spain
se fueron — they or you all left
Fui and fue do not carry written accent marks.
Why is the past of me voy suddenly me fui?
Because ir is highly irregular.
Do not try to build its past tense from the present stem.
Memorize me voy and me fui as two essential forms.
Commands: Sal, Vete, Vamos, and Vámonos
Sal — Go Out or Get Out
Sal de aquí.
Get out of here.
Leave this place.
Sal is the affirmative tú command of salir.
Vete — Leave or Go Away
Vete de aquí.
Go away.
Leave this place.
Vete focuses more strongly on the person going away.
Depending on tone, both sal de aquí and vete de aquí can sound forceful or rude.
Vamos — Let’s Go
Vamos al restaurante.
Let’s go to the restaurant.
This often focuses on going toward a destination or beginning an activity.
Vámonos — Let’s Leave or Let’s Get Going
Es tarde. Vámonos.
It’s late. Let’s leave.
This more clearly emphasizes leaving the current place.
let’s go; focus often falls on movement or destination
vámonos
let’s leave or get going; focus falls on departing from here
Salir vs. Irse Examples Side by Side
Salió de la habitación.
He or she went out of the room.
Se fue de la habitación.
He or she left the room and went away.
Salgo de la oficina a las seis.
I leave the office at six.
Focus: departure time
Me voy de la oficina a las seis.
I leave the office at six.
Focus: ending my presence there
Salió de casa temprano.
She went out of the house early.
Se fue de casa cuando cumplió dieciocho años.
She left home when she turned eighteen.
Salimos de la fiesta a medianoche.
We departed from the party at midnight.
Nos fuimos porque estábamos cansados.
We left because we were tired.
Salimos esta noche.
We’re going out tonight.
Nos vamos esta noche.
We’re leaving tonight.
Ya salgo.
I’m coming out or leaving now.
Ya me voy.
I’m leaving now.
Common Beginner Mistakes
Mistake 1: Using Salir for Every English “Leave”
Me voy.
I’m leaving.
Not the best context-free translation:
Salgo.
Salgo is grammatical, but without context it may mean “I go out,” “I leave at a certain time,” or “I’m coming out.”
Mistake 2: Forgetting the Pronoun in Irse
Voy al trabajo.
I’m going to work.
Leaving the current location:
Me voy.
I’m leaving.
The pronoun is part of the meaning when irse means “leave or go away.”
Mistake 3: Saying Yo Me Ir
Yo me ir.
Correct:
Me voy.
Mistake 4: Confusing Me Voy with Me Fui
I’m leaving.
Present
Me fui.
I left.
Past
Mistake 5: Using Irse for a Train Schedule
El tren sale a las nueve.
The train leaves at nine.
Mistake 6: Confusing Salir with Salirse
Salirse often means to go outside a boundary, deviate from a route, overflow, or leave an expected position.
It is not a universal substitute for salir or irse.
Mistake 7: Translating Salir con as Leave With
She dates or goes out with Marcos.
Se fue con Marcos.
She left with Marcos.
Mistake 8: Forgetting That Salir Has Non-Movement Meanings
In expressions such as salir bien, salir mal, or la película sale en mayo, the verb does not simply mean “leave.”
Practice: Choose Salir or Irse
Choose the correct form of salir or irse.
2. El tren ______ a las siete y media.
3. Los estudiantes ______ del aula cuando terminó la clase.
4. Ana se ______ sin decir adiós.
5. Normalmente ______ con mis amigos los viernes.
6. Mis padres se ______ de la fiesta temprano.
7. La película nueva ______ en octubre.
8. Todo ______ mejor de lo que esperábamos.
9. Mi hermano se ______ de casa a los veintidós años.
10. Yo ______ de casa todos los días a las ocho.
11. ¿Por qué te ______ tan pronto?
12. No quiero que te ______ todavía.
13. Esta noche vamos a ______ a cenar.
14. El coche se ______ de la carretera.
15. Tengo que ______. Mañana trabajo temprano.
16. ¿A qué hora ______ tu vuelo?
Answers
Me voy.
The speaker announces an immediate departure.
2. sale
El tren sale a las siete y media.
Use salir for a scheduled departure.
3. salieron
Los estudiantes salieron del aula.
They physically moved out of the classroom.
4. fue
Ana se fue sin decir adiós.
The focus is that she left and was no longer present.
5. salgo
Salgo con mis amigos los viernes.
Salir means go out socially.
6. fueron
Mis padres se fueron de la fiesta temprano.
They left the event.
7. sale
La película nueva sale en octubre.
Salir means be released or come out.
8. salió
Todo salió mejor de lo que esperábamos.
Salir describes the result.
9. fue
Mi hermano se fue de casa a los veintidós años.
The sentence may suggest moving away from the family home.
10. salgo
Salgo de casa todos los días a las ocho.
The sentence states a regular departure time.
11. vas
¿Por qué te vas tan pronto?
The question asks why the listener is leaving.
12. vayas
No quiero que te vayas todavía.
The subjunctive follows the expression of desire.
13. salir
Vamos a salir a cenar.
Salir a + infinitive expresses going out to perform an activity.
14. salió
El coche se salió de la carretera.
Salirse describes leaving the proper route or boundary.
15. irme
Tengo que irme.
Irse means leave or go away.
16. sale
¿A qué hora sale tu vuelo?
Use salir for the flight’s departure time.
Frequently Asked Questions About Salir vs. Irse
What is the difference between salir and irse?
Salir generally focuses on going out of a place, crossing from inside to outside, or departing from a specific origin. Irse generally focuses on leaving a place or situation behind and no longer being present.
What does me voy mean?
Me voy means “I’m leaving,” “I’m going now,” “I’m off,” or “I’m going away,” depending on context.
How do you say “I am leaving” in Spanish?
The most useful general expression is:
Me voy.
What is the difference between voy and me voy?
Voy focuses on going toward a destination. Me voy focuses on leaving the current place. For example, Voy al banco means “I’m going to the bank,” while Me voy al banco means “I’m leaving for the bank.”
What is the difference between salgo and me voy?
Salgo can mean “I go out,” “I leave,” or “I come out,” depending on context. Me voy more directly announces “I’m leaving” or “I’m going away.”
What does me tengo que ir mean?
Me tengo que ir means “I have to leave” or “I have to go.” Tengo que irme has the same meaning.
What is the difference between salir de casa and irse de casa?
Salir de casa normally describes physically going out of the house. Irse de casa focuses on leaving home behind and can imply moving out or making a more significant departure, depending on context.
Which verb is used for trains and flights?
Use salir for a scheduled departure:
El tren sale a las ocho.
How do you say “let’s leave” in Spanish?
Say:
Vámonos.
Vamos commonly means “let’s go,” while vámonos more clearly emphasizes leaving the current place.
Does salir mean “to date”?
Salir con alguien can mean to go out socially with someone or to date that person. Context determines which meaning is intended.
Is salirse the same as salir?
No. Salirse often means to leave a boundary or proper route, overflow, deviate from a subject, or move outside an expected position.
Is irse always permanent?
No. Irse can describe an everyday temporary departure. It can imply permanence only when the surrounding context suggests a major or lasting separation.
Salir or Irse for “Leave”?
Ask which camera is filming the scene: the doorway, or the person walking away.
El tren sale a las ocho. / Salimos esta noche. — this use never switches to irse.
Me voy. / Me tengo que ir. — the standard way to say “I’m leaving.”
Salió de la habitación. — the camera watches the doorway.
Se fue de la empresa. / Se fue de casa. — the camera watches the person walk away.
turn out well/badly, or overflow/go off-route — special uses that are not simple “leave.”
※ Many everyday departures accept either verb — salir emphasizes the exit or origin, irse emphasizes that the person is no longer there. When in doubt, me voy is the safest way to say “I’m leaving.”
Salir vs. Irse: Final Summary
● moving from inside to outside
● leaving or departing from a specific place
● train, bus, flight, or ship departure times
● going out socially
● salir con alguien: go out with or date someone
● a product, movie, or publication coming out
● salir bien or mal: turn out well or badly
Use irse for:
● announcing that someone is leaving
● emphasizing that a person is no longer present
● leaving a place or situation behind
● me voy: I’m leaving
● me tengo que ir: I have to leave
● vámonos: let’s leave
Core memory rule:
● Salir = out of a place
● Irse = away from the situation
Important overlapping case:
Both verbs can describe the same physical departure, but salir emphasizes the exit or origin, while irse emphasizes ending one’s presence there.
When you hesitate between salir and irse, imagine two different camera angles.
The salir camera watches the doorway, boundary, or departure point.
The irse camera watches the person go away and notices that they are no longer here.
For a simple announcement meaning “I’m leaving,” remember the essential expression Me voy.
Real Academia Española and Asociación de Academias de la Lengua Española, Diccionario de la lengua española: “salir.”
Real Academia Española and Asociación de Academias de la Lengua Española, Diccionario de la lengua española: “ir.”
Real Academia Española and Asociación de Academias de la Lengua Española, Diccionario panhispánico de dudas: “salir, salirse.”
Real Academia Española and Asociación de Academias de la Lengua Española, Diccionario panhispánico de dudas: “ir, irse.”
Related Guide
For the full map of Spanish verb pairs that learners mix up, start with the main guide: Confusing Spanish Verb Pairs: Commonly Confused Verbs Explained.
