ve
“ve” means “go” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
go
Also: head, get
📝 In Action
Ve a la tienda y compra leche.
A1Go to the store and buy milk.
Si no te sientes bien, ve al doctor.
A2If you don't feel well, go to the doctor.
Ve con cuidado, el piso está mojado.
B1Go carefully, the floor is wet.
he/she/it sees, you see
Also: he/she/it watches, he/she/it looks at
📝 In Action
Mi abuela no ve muy bien sin sus gafas.
A1My grandmother doesn't see very well without her glasses.
Él ve las noticias todas las noches.
A2He watches the news every night.
¿Usted ve alguna solución al problema?
B1Do you (formal) see any solution to the problem?
Indicative
Present
Imperfect
Preterite
Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: ve
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 've' to mean 'go'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
This is a fascinating word because it has two separate origins! The command 've' (go) comes from the Latin verb 'ire' (to go). The statement 've' (he/she sees) comes from a different Latin verb, 'videre' (to see). They just happened to end up looking and sounding the same in modern Spanish.
First recorded: Both forms trace back to Vulgar Latin, evolving into their current forms around the 10th-12th centuries.
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
How can I tell if 've' means 'go' or 'sees'?
It's all about context! If the sentence is a command telling someone to do something, 've' means 'go'. (Example: '¡Ve más rápido!' - Go faster!). If the sentence is a statement describing what someone (he, she, or a formal you) is seeing or watching, it means 'sees' or 'watches'. (Example: 'Él ve un pájaro.' - He sees a bird.)
Why is the command for 'ir' so short? I thought commands were different.
You're right, many commands are different! But 'ir' is a super common and highly irregular verb. It has a few very short, special forms you just have to memorize. 'Ve' is one of them, and it's used for telling a friend ('tú') to go.