Inklingo
Get the App
← Dictionary
A small, stylized character walking quickly away from the brightly colored red door of a cottage, illustrating the action of leaving.

vete

/BEH-teh/

Verb (Imperative)A2irregular ir
go away?Telling someone to leave,leave?Commanding someone to depart
Also:go on?Encouraging someone to depart, e.g., so they aren't late,get out?A stronger, more forceful command to leave,be off?A casual way to say 'go now'

Quick Reference

infinitiveirse
gerundyéndose
past Participleido

📝 In Action

¡Vete de aquí ahora mismo!

A2

Get out of here right now!

Mamá, ¿ya me puedo ir? —Sí, vete, pero con cuidado.

A2

Mom, can I go now? —Yes, go on, but be careful.

Si no te gusta el partido, pues vete a casa.

B1

If you don't like the game, well, go home.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • márchate (leave, go away)
  • lárgate (get lost, beat it (stronger, slang))

Antonyms

  • quédate (stay)
  • ven (come)

Common Collocations

  • vete a casa – go home
  • vete de aquí – get out of here

Idioms & Expressions

  • Vete a freír espárragos – Get lost; go jump in a lake.

💡 Grammar Points

Two Words in One: `ve` + `te`

‘Vete’ is actually two small words squished together: ve (the command 'go') and te ('yourself'). In Spanish, when you give a positive command and use a word like 'me', 'you', or 'it', you attach it directly to the end of the verb.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Confusing `ve` (Go) and `vete` (Go away)

Mistake: "To give directions, you might say: 'Cuando llegues a la esquina, vete a la derecha.'"

Correction: The correct way is: 'Cuando llegues a la esquina, ve a la derecha.' Use `ve` for simple directions ('go'). Use `vete` only when you mean 'go away' or 'leave a place'.

⭐ Usage Tips

Tone is Everything

‘Vete’ can sound friendly, like '¡Vete, que vas a llegar tarde!' ('Go on, you're going to be late!'), or it can sound angry, like '¡Vete! ¡No quiero verte!' ('Get out! I don't want to see you!'). Your tone of voice makes all the difference.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: vete

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence correctly tells someone to leave your room?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

ir(to go) - verb
irse(to go away, to leave) - verb
ida(departure, one-way trip) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'vete' a rude word?

It can be, but it all depends on the situation and your tone of voice. It can be a harsh 'Get out!' or a gentle and friendly 'Go on, it's okay.' Among friends and family, it's very common and not usually considered rude.

What's the difference between 'vete' and 'sal'?

`Vete` means 'go away' or 'leave' a general area. `Sal` (from the verb `salir`) specifically means 'exit' or 'go out of' an enclosed space, like a room or a building. You could say '¡Sal de mi casa!' or '¡Vete de mi casa!' and they would mean almost the same thing.

How do I say 'vete' to a group of people, or to someone formally?

For a group of friends (in Spain), you'd say 'idos'. For a formal situation (addressing an 'usted') you'd say 'váyase'. For a group in a formal situation or in Latin America (addressing 'ustedes'), you'd say 'váyanse'.