Meaning and Usage
The verb salir primarily means to leave or to go out. It is commonly used to indicate physically leaving a place or going out socially. Additionally, it can be used in various expressions related to departure, exiting, or even dating and publishing contexts.
Irregular Verb Characteristics
Salir is an irregular verb in Spanish, especially in the first person singular (yo) form in the present tense. Unlike regular -ir verbs, it does not follow the simple stem changes in some tenses, requiring memorization of its unique conjugations.
Present Tense Conjugation
Below is the present tense conjugation table for salir, reflecting its irregularities:
| Spanish Pronoun | Spanish Conjugation | English Conjugation | Spanish Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| yo | salgo | I leave/go out | Yo salgo de casa a las ocho. | I leave the house at eight. |
| tú | sales | you leave/go out | Tú sales con tus amigos hoy. | You go out with your friends today. |
| él/ella/usted | sale | he/she/you (formal) leaves/goes out | Ella sale del trabajo temprano. | She leaves work early. |
| nosotros/as | salimos | we leave/go out | Nosotros salimos juntos. | We leave together. |
| vosotros/as | salís | you all leave/go out | Vosotros salís a cenar. | You all go out to dinner. |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | salen | they/you all leave/go out | Ellos salen de viaje mañana. | They leave on a trip tomorrow. |
Preterite Tense Conjugation
The preterite tense of salir is also irregular, especially in the first person singular form:
| Spanish Pronoun | Spanish Conjugation | English Conjugation | Spanish Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| yo | salí | I left/went out | Ayer yo salí a las diez. | Yesterday I left at ten. |
| tú | saliste | you left/went out | Tú saliste temprano del trabajo. | You left work early. |
| él/ella/usted | salió | he/she/you (formal) left/went out | Ella salió del restaurante ya. | She already left the restaurant. |
| nosotros/as | salimos | we left/went out | Salimos anoche para la fiesta. | We left for the party last night. |
| vosotros/as | salisteis | you all left/went out | Vosotros salisteis juntos. | You all left together. |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | salieron | they/you all left/went out | Ellos salieron sin avisar. | They left without warning. |
Common Expressions with Salir
- salir de viaje – to go on a trip
- salir con alguien – to go out with someone (dating)
- salir bien/mal – to turn out well/badly
- salir a cenar – to go out to dinner
These expressions demonstrate the versatility of salir beyond just the basic meaning of leaving a location.
Summary
The verb salir is essential for expressing departure or going out in Spanish. Mastery of its irregular forms in present and past tenses allows for confident conversation related to leaving places, social outings, and various idiomatic uses.
