Inklingo

How to Say "to depart" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “to depart” is “marcharme” — use 'marcharme' for a general, formal, or slightly abrupt departure from a place or situation..

English → Spanish

marcharme

mar-CHAR-meh/maɾˈtʃaɾme/

verbA2formal
Use 'marcharme' for a general, formal, or slightly abrupt departure from a place or situation.
A simplified illustration of a person seen from the back, wearing a small backpack, actively walking away from an open doorway and stepping onto a path, signifying departure.

Examples

Necesito marcharme ahora mismo o perderé el tren.

I need to leave right now or I will miss the train.

Antes de marcharme, quiero despedirme de todos.

Before leaving, I want to say goodbye to everyone.

Si decides marcharme, avísame con tiempo.

If you decide I should go, let me know ahead of time. (Note: This is a highly specific, less common construction where 'decides' governs 'marcharme'.)

Reflexive Infinitive Structure

The word 'marcharme' is the base verb 'marchar' plus the pronoun 'me'. This means the action of leaving ('marchar') is done by and directed back at the speaker ('me').

Pronoun Placement

When using the infinitive form, the 'me' is attached to the end (marcharme). If you conjugate the verb, the 'me' moves to the front: 'Yo me marcho' (I leave).

Missing the 'Me'

Mistake: “Quiero marchar.”

Correction: Quiero marcharme. When 'marchar' means 'to leave,' it almost always needs the reflexive pronoun ('-se' or '-me'). 'Marchar' alone usually means 'to march' or 'to function.'

zarpar

/sar-PAR//θarˈpaɾ/

verbB1
Use 'zarpar' specifically when a ship or boat is leaving port or setting sail.
A large wooden sailboat pulling away from a wooden dock onto the blue ocean.

Examples

El crucero zarpa mañana a las seis de la mañana.

The cruise ship sets sail tomorrow at six in the morning.

Todos los marineros estaban listos para zarpar.

All the sailors were ready to weigh anchor.

Una vez que el barco zarpe, no habrá vuelta atrás.

Once the boat sets sail, there will be no turning back.

Using 'De' with Zarpar

When you want to say where a boat is leaving from, always use the word 'de' (from), as in 'zarpar de Valencia'.

A Word for Ships

This verb is specifically used for water vessels. You don't need to specify 'el barco' if the context is clear, but it's only for things that sail.

Using it for land travel

Mistake: “El tren zarpa a las cinco.”

Correction: El tren sale a las cinco. Use 'salir' or 'partir' for land vehicles; 'zarpar' is only for the sea.

General vs. Specific Departures

Learners often mistakenly use 'zarpar' for any type of departure. Remember that 'zarpar' is exclusively for ships leaving port; for all other departures, like leaving a building or ending a meeting, 'marcharme' or other verbs are appropriate.

Related Translations

Learn Spanish with Inklingo

Interactive stories, personalized learning, and more.