Salir and Irse are two Spanish verbs that both relate to leaving, but have different meanings and uses. Salir means "to go out" or "to leave (a place)," while Irse means "to go away" or "to leave (depart from a situation)." Understanding their nuances helps express departure accurately.
Understanding the fundamental difference:
- Salir focuses on leaving a specific place or going out.
- Irse emphasizes leaving or going away from somewhere, often with a sense of departure or taking oneself off.
Salir: To go out, to leave a place
Salir is used when someone leaves a building, room, or any specific location, or goes out for a social activity. It often answers "from where?" (¿de dónde?).
- Salir de + [lugar]: to leave from a place
- Salir con + [persona]: to go out with someone (dating or socializing)
- Salir a + [actividad]: to go out to do something
Irse: To leave, to go away
Irse means to leave or go away from a place or situation. It has a more general sense of departure and often implies that the person is removing themselves from the scene. It doesn’t specify where they’re going—just that they’re leaving.
- Irse de + [lugar]: to leave a place
- Irse + [adverb]: irse temprano (leave early), irse lejos (go far away)
- Irse a + [lugar] / [actividad]: to go to a place or start an activity
Key Differences
- Salir = focus on exiting or going out from a specific location.
- Irse = focus on leaving or going away, often with a sense of finality or self-removal.
- Salir often implies the person is still nearby or the action is temporary.
- Irse can imply a longer or more decisive departure.
Usage Examples
| Spanish Example | English Translation | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Salgo de casa a las ocho. | I leave the house at eight. | Salir de = leaving a specific place |
| Me voy de casa a las ocho. | I’m leaving home at eight. | Irse de = going away from home |
| Salgo con María esta noche. | I’m going out with María tonight. | Salir con = go out (dating/social) |
| Me voy temprano hoy. | I’m leaving early today. | Irse + adverb = leave early |
| Salimos a cenar. | We’re going out to dinner. | Salir a + actividad = go out to do something |
| Me voy a cenar. | I’m going away to eat. | Irse a + actividad = leave to do something |
| ¿A qué hora sales? | What time do you go out? | Salir focuses on the going out part |
| ¿A qué hora te vas? | What time do you leave? | Irse focuses on the act of leaving |
Me voy de casa a las ocho.
I’m leaving home at eight.
'Me voy de casa a las ocho' emphasizes the act of leaving home (going away), not just stepping out.
Salgo con María esta noche.
I’m going out with María tonight.
'Salir con María' means going out with María, often implying a date or social outing.
Grammar Notes
- Salir is a regular verb in the present tense but irregular in the first person (yo salgo).
- Irse is a reflexive verb (irse) and is irregular (yo me voy).
- Both verbs can be used with prepositions de, a, con depending on the phrase.
Is 'salir' a regular verb in the present tense?
Yes, except for the first person singular (yo salgo)
'Salir' is regular except for 'yo salgo,' which is irregular for spelling reasons.
Summary
- Use salir when talking about leaving a place, going out, or stepping out.
- Use irse when the focus is on leaving, going away, or removing oneself from a situation.
- Context and prepositions will guide which verb is appropriate.
Last updated: Thu Jun 5, 2025
