A simple illustration showing a person stepping out of a dark room through an open doorway and into bright daylight.

saliera

sah-LYEH-rah

Verb (conjugated form)B1irregular (stem derived from preterite) ir

I/he/she/it left (subjunctive)?Expressing a past wish or requirement,I/he/she/it went out (subjunctive)?Hypothetical or conditional situations in the past

Also:I/he/she/it would leave?Often used after 'si' (if) to form a contrary-to-fact condition

Quick Reference

infinitivesalir

gerundsaliendo

past Participlesalido

📝 In Action

Mi madre quería que yo saliera más a menudo.

My mother wanted me to go out more often.

Si saliera el sol, podríamos dar un paseo.

If the sun came out, we could take a walk.

Era importante que la verdad saliera a la luz.

It was important that the truth came to light.

No creía que él saliera ileso del accidente.

I didn't believe that he would come out of the accident unharmed.

Word Connections

Synonyms

marchara (I/he/she left (subjunctive))
abandonara (I/he/she abandoned (subjunctive))

Antonyms

entrara (I/he/she entered (subjunctive))
llegara (I/he/she arrived (subjunctive))

Common Collocations

Si saliera bien – If it went well
Quería que saliera – I wanted him/her/it to leave

💡 Grammar Points

The Imperfect Subjunctive's Function

Use 'saliera' when you need to express a past desire, emotion, doubt, or judgment about the action of 'leaving' or 'going out.' It always follows a trigger word or phrase.

Hypothetical Situations

This form is crucial for talking about things that are contrary to fact or unlikely in the present or past. When paired with 'si' (if), it often means 'would' or 'could.'

❌ Common Pitfalls

Confusing Indicative and Subjunctive

Mistake: "Dije que ella salía a las tres. (I said she left at three.)"

Correction: Dudaba que ella saliera a las tres. (I doubted that she left at three.) The subjunctive is used after verbs of doubt or denial, not simple statements.

⭐ Usage Tips

The '-ra' vs. '-se' Form

'Saliera' is the most common form in spoken Spanish. You might also see 'saliese,' which means exactly the same thing, but 'saliera' is usually preferred.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: saliera

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence correctly uses 'saliera' to express a past wish or requirement?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

salir(to leave, to go out) - verb

salida(exit, way out) - noun

saliente(outgoing, protruding) - adjective

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'saliera' used for the present, past, or future?

Even though it is the 'imperfect' form, 'saliera' is used to refer to actions in the past, or in hypothetical situations that relate to the present or future (e.g., 'Si saliera ahora...' - If he left now...).

I saw the word 'saliese.' Is that the same as 'saliera'?

Yes! Spanish has two accepted forms for the imperfect subjunctive: the '-ra' form (saliera) and the '-se' form (saliese). They are completely interchangeable and mean the exact same thing.