irme
EER-meh
Quick Reference
📝 In Action
Tengo que irme ahora.
A1I have to leave now.
No quiero irme todavía.
A2I don't want to leave yet.
Decidí irme de la fiesta temprano.
B1I decided to leave the party early.
Para no llegar tarde, es mejor irme ya.
B2In order not to be late, it's better for me to leave now.
💡 Grammar Points
'Ir' vs. 'Irse': Going vs. Leaving
Think of 'ir' as 'to go TO a place' (destination). Think of 'irse' as 'to go FROM a place' (departure). The little 'se' part signals you're leaving. So, 'Voy al cine' means 'I'm going to the movies.' But 'Me voy del cine' means 'I'm leaving from the movies.'
What is 'irme'?
'Irme' is a combo of the base verb 'ir' (to go) and the pronoun 'me' (myself). You use this 'infinitive' form after another verb, like 'Quiero irme' (I want to leave) or 'Tengo que irme' (I have to leave).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting the 'me/te/se' Part
Mistake: "To say 'I'm leaving the party,' a learner might say: 'Yo voy de la fiesta.'"
Correction: The correct way is: 'Yo me voy de la fiesta.' To say you're leaving, you always need the little word (me, te, se, etc.) that matches who is doing the leaving.
⭐ Usage Tips
How to Announce Your Departure
A very common and natural way to say you're leaving is simply 'Bueno, me voy' (Well, I'm off) or 'Ya me voy' (I'm leaving now). It's a perfect, friendly way to signal the end of a conversation or visit.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: irme
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly says 'I want to leave at ten'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'me voy' and 'salgo'?
They are very similar! 'Me voy' means 'I'm leaving' and emphasizes your departure from a place. 'Salgo' means 'I'm going out' or 'I'm exiting.' You could say 'Salgo de la casa' (I'm leaving the house) or 'Me voy de la casa' (I'm leaving the house). 'Me voy' often feels a bit more general or final.
Why do you say 'vámonos' instead of 'nos vamos' for 'let's go'?
'Vámonos' is the command form for 'we'. It's a direct suggestion: 'Let's leave now!' 'Nos vamos' is a simple statement: 'We are leaving.' Both are very common, but 'vámonos' has a bit more energy and urgency, like an invitation to leave together.