van
“van” means “they go” in Spanish (talking about a group of people or things).
they go, you all go
Also: they are going
📝 In Action
Ellos van al cine todos los viernes.
A1They go to the movies every Friday.
Mis padres van de vacaciones a la playa.
A1My parents are going on vacation to the beach.
Ustedes van a la reunión, ¿verdad?
A2You all are going to the meeting, right?
Las cosas no siempre van como uno espera.
B1Things don't always go as one expects.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
Translate to Spanish
Words that translate to "van" in Spanish:
they go→✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: van
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly uses 'van' to talk about a future plan?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
A fascinating mix! The verb 'ir' is one of the most irregular because it's a mashup of three different Latin verbs: 'ire' (to go), 'vadere' (to walk, to go), and 'esse' (to be). 'Van' comes from the 'vadere' root.
First recorded: Forms of 'ir' appear in the earliest Spanish texts, around the 10th century.
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'van' and 'se van'?
'Van' simply means 'they go' (e.g., 'Van al trabajo' - They go to work). Adding 'se' ('se van') changes the meaning to 'they are leaving' or 'they are going away'. It emphasizes the act of departing from a place (e.g., 'Ya se van de la fiesta' - They're already leaving the party).
Why is 'van' from 'ir'? They look so different!
It's because the Spanish verb 'ir' is a mix of three different Latin verbs. Some forms, like 'ir' itself, come from the Latin 'ire'. Other forms, like 'van', 'vas', 'voy', come from a different Latin verb, 'vadere'. It's a bit strange, but it's one of the unique quirks of Spanish!