Inklingo
Dictionary

retirarse

reh-tee-RAHR-sehre.tiˈɾaɾ.se

“retirarse” means “to retire” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:

to retireB1Verb

from work/profession

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to withdrawB2Verb

from a competition/place

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to go to bedC1Verb

formal/literary

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to retireAlso: to step down

VerbB1regular (reflexive) ar
A smiling older adult holding a small box of personal items, waving goodbye as they walk away from a large, closed office building entrance.
infinitiveretirarse
gerundretirándose
past Participleretirado

📝 In Action

Mi abuelo se retiró a los 65 años después de trabajar 40 años en la fábrica.

B1

My grandfather retired at 65 after working 40 years in the factory.

¿Cuándo planeas retirarte? Queremos hacer una gran fiesta.

B1

When do you plan to retire? We want to throw a big party.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • jubilarse (to retire (specifically receiving a pension))
  • cesar (to cease, to stop working)

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • edad de retirarse – retirement age
  • retirarse temprano – to retire early

to withdraw, to retreatAlso: to pull out

VerbB2regular (reflexive) ar
A runner stopping on a dirt track and stepping off the competitive running path onto the grass, turning their back on the race.
infinitiveretirarse
gerundretirándose
past Participleretirado

📝 In Action

El equipo tuvo que retirarse del torneo debido a las lesiones.

B2

The team had to withdraw from the tournament due to injuries.

Los soldados se retiraron a una posición más segura después del ataque.

B2

The soldiers retreated to a safer position after the attack.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • alejarse (to move away)
  • retroceder (to back up, to move backward)

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • retirarse de la vida pública – to withdraw from public life

to go to bed, to turn in

VerbC1regular (reflexive) arformal
A quiet, cozy bedroom scene showing a person in pajamas walking towards a large, inviting bed ready for sleep.
infinitiveretirarse
gerundretirándose
past Participleretirado

📝 In Action

Señoras y señores, con su permiso, me voy a retirar que mañana madrugo.

C1

Ladies and gentlemen, with your permission, I am going to go to bed as I have an early start tomorrow.

Después de la cena, el duque se retiró a sus aposentos.

C2

After dinner, the duke retired to his chambers.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • acostarse (to go to bed (common))
  • irse a la cama (to go to bed (colloquial))

Antonyms

Indicative

Present

yome retiro
túte retiras
él/ella/ustedse retira
nosotrosnos retiramos
vosotrosos retiráis
ellos/ellas/ustedesse retiran

Imperfect

yome retiraba
túte retirabas
él/ella/ustedse retiraba
nosotrosnos retirábamos
vosotrosos retirabais
ellos/ellas/ustedesse retiraban

Preterite

yome retiré
túte retiraste
él/ella/ustedse retiró
nosotrosnos retiramos
vosotrosos retirasteis
ellos/ellas/ustedesse retiraron

Subjunctive

Present Subjunctive

yome retire
túte retires
él/ella/ustedse retire
nosotrosnos retiremos
vosotrosos retiréis
ellos/ellas/ustedesse retiren

Imperfect Subjunctive

yome retirara
túte retiraras
él/ella/ustedse retirara
nosotrosnos retiráramos
vosotrosos retirarais
ellos/ellas/ustedesse retiraran
View All Tenses & Moods →

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "retirarse" in Spanish:

to retireto retreatto withdraw

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: retirarse

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence correctly uses 'retirarse' in the sense of 'to go to bed'?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family
retiro(retirement, retreat (noun)) — Noun
retirada(retreat (military/noun)) — Noun
retirar(to withdraw (money/an object)) — Verb
🎵 Rhymes
casarsequedarse
📚 Etymology

Comes from the Latin verb *retirare*, formed by *re-* (meaning 'back' or 'again') and *tirare* (meaning 'to draw' or 'to pull'). The core idea is 'to pull oneself back or away.'

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

French: retirerItalian: ritirarsi

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use 'retirarse' to talk about withdrawing cash from an ATM?

No. When you are withdrawing money or an object, you must use the non-reflexive verb 'retirar' (without the 'se'). Example: 'Voy a retirar dinero' (I am going to withdraw money).

Is 'retirarse' a stem-changing verb?

No, 'retirarse' is a regular verb. The 'i' in the stem always stays the same, unlike verbs that change 'e' to 'ie' or 'o' to 'ue'.