Salir vs Irse – Go Out vs Leave
When deciding between salir and irse, think about whether you emphasize going out to an activity or departing from a place. This short guide contrasts the two with examples, signal words, and key expressions.
Salir
Use salir to highlight going out from a place, often to do something or to appear publicly. It focuses on the action of exiting with an implied purpose.
Examples
| Spanish Example | English Translation |
|---|---|
| ☕ Salgo a tomar un café con amigos. | I’m going out to have coffee with friends. |
| 🌅 Salimos a pasear por el parque al atardecer. | We went out to walk in the park at sunset. |
| 🎬 Esta noche salgo a ver una película. | Tonight I’m going out to see a movie. |
| 🍴 Salieron a cenar a un restaurante nuevo. | They went out to dinner at a new restaurant. |
Common Phrases
| Spanish Example | English Translation |
|---|---|
| 🕗 Salgo a las ocho. | I’m going out at eight. |
| 📍 Salimos del centro. | We’re going out from downtown. |
| 💬 ¿Salimos esta noche? | Shall we go out tonight? |
| ✔️ Salí con ellos ayer. | I went out with them yesterday. |
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Irse
Use irse to emphasize leaving a place, especially when the departure matters to the speaker. Irse highlights the act of going away rather than the destination or activity.
Examples
| Spanish Example | English Translation |
|---|---|
| 🏠 Me voy a casa ahora. | I’m leaving for home now. |
| 🚌 Se fue antes de que llegara el autobús. | He left before the bus arrived. |
| 🧳 Nos iremos mañana por la mañana. | We will leave tomorrow morning. |
| 🔑 Ella se fue sin avisar. | She left without warning. |
Expressions
| Spanish Example | English Translation |
|---|---|
| ⏰ Me tengo que ir. | I have to leave. |
| 👋 Me voy, nos vemos. | I’m leaving, see you. |
| 🚪 Se fue a las dos. | He left at two. |
| 🏃♀️ Tuvieron que irse corriendo. | They had to leave running. |
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Key Differences
Salir often pairs with destinations or activities, while irse centers on leaving and can include reasons or time. Choose salir for going out to do something and irse for departing from where you are.
Signal Words
Time markers and contexts can guide you: use salir with phrases like para + destination, and irse with expressions of leaving time or purpose. Paying attention to nearby clues helps pick the right verb.
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Summary
Use salir to talk about going out from a place to an activity or destination, and use irse to stress leaving or departing from a place. Practice switching the two in short sentences to feel the difference in emphasis.
Last updated: Tue Sep 16, 2025