irse
/EER-seh/
to leave
When someone departs from a place, they irse (leave).
irse(Pronominal Verb)
to leave
?departing from a place
,to go away
?moving away from a location
to go
?when emphasizing the act of departure
📝 In Action
Me voy a casa ahora.
A1I'm leaving for home now.
Se fueron de la fiesta muy temprano.
A2They left the party very early.
Si no te gusta, ¡vete!
B1If you don't like it, leave!
💡 Grammar Points
What's the 'se' for? ('ir' vs. 'irse')
Think of 'ir' as 'to go' (destination is key) and 'irse' as 'to go away' or 'to leave' (departure is key). For example, 'Voy a la tienda' (I'm going to the store) vs. 'Me voy de la tienda' (I'm leaving from the store).
Where does the little pronoun go?
The pronoun (me, te, se, etc.) usually goes right before the verb: 'Me voy'. But for commands or when attached to the verb's base form, it hooks onto the end: '¡Vete!' (Leave!) or 'Necesito irme' (I need to leave).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting the 'se' part when leaving
Mistake: "Yo voy de la oficina a las cinco."
Correction: Yo me voy de la oficina a las cinco. (I leave the office at five.) To talk about leaving a place, you need 'irse', not just 'ir'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Expressing 'I'm outta here!'
The simple phrase '¡Me voy!' is a very common and natural way to announce you're leaving a place, like when you're heading out from a friend's house or work.
When a container or pipe has a crack, the liquid will irse (leak).
irse(Pronominal Verb)
to leak
?for pipes, containers
,to spill
?for a liquid overflowing or escaping
to run
?for colors in laundry
📝 In Action
Se está yendo el gas del globo.
B1The gas is leaking from the balloon.
Cuidado, la sopa se va por el borde de la olla.
B2Careful, the soup is spilling over the edge of the pot.
💡 Grammar Points
Talking About Accidents
This use of 'irse' is often part of a structure that describes an accident without placing blame. For example, 'Se me fue la leche' is like saying 'The milk got away from me' instead of 'I spilled the milk'.
Colors that diminish over time are said to irse (fade).
irse(Pronominal Verb)
to fade
?for colors or memories
,to wear off
?for an effect, like medicine or a feeling
to come out
?for a stain
📝 In Action
La mancha de café por fin se fue de mi camisa.
B2The coffee stain finally came out of my shirt.
El efecto de la medicina se está yendo poco a poco.
B2The effect of the medicine is wearing off little by little.
Se me fue el enojo después de hablar con él.
C1My anger went away after talking with him.
⭐ Usage Tips
From Concrete to Abstract
This meaning extends the idea of 'leaving' to things you can't physically see. Just as a person can leave a room, a stain can 'leave' a shirt, or pain can 'leave' your body.
Irse is often used as a gentle euphemism for 'to pass away'.
irse(Pronominal Verb)
to pass away
?euphemism for dying
to be gone
?referring to someone who has died
📝 In Action
Mi abuela se fue el año pasado.
B2My grandmother passed away last year.
Se fue en paz, mientras dormía.
C1He passed away peacefully in his sleep.
⭐ Usage Tips
A Softer Way to Speak
Using 'irse' to talk about death is much gentler and more respectful than the direct verb 'morir' (to die). It's very common when offering condolences or in obituaries.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: irse
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly says 'I am leaving now'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'ir', 'irse', and 'salir'?
Great question! 'Ir' means 'to go' somewhere ('Voy a la playa'). 'Irse' means 'to leave' a place ('Me voy de la oficina'). 'Salir' means 'to go out' or 'to exit' ('Salgo con mis amigos'). 'Irse' emphasizes the departure, while 'salir' emphasizes moving from an inside space to an outside one.
Why is the command 'vete' and not 'vas-te'?
This is one of those classic irregularities you just have to memorize! The command form for 'tú' (you, informal) of the verb 'ir' is 've'. When you add the pronoun 'te' to make it 'irse', it becomes 'vete'. The same happens with the formal command: 'vaya' + 'se' = 'váyase'.