Conjugation of the verb "ir" in Spanish: A complete guide 🚀

The verb "ir" (to go) is one of the most important and irregular verbs in Spanish. Whether you’re making plans, talking about past experiences, or describing future actions, knowing how to conjugate "ir" correctly is essential.

In this post, we’ll answer:
✅ How do you conjugate "ir"? 🔄
✅ How do you conjugate "ir a" for the near future? ⏩
✅ How do you say "ir" in the past? ⏳
✅ Common expressions with "ir" in Spanish 💡

Let’s dive into the world of Spanish verb conjugations! 

🔄 How do you conjugate the verb "ir"? 

The verb "ir" (to go) is highly irregular, meaning its conjugation doesn’t follow normal patterns. Here’s how it changes in different tenses:

🟢 Present tense of "ir" (Presente de indicativo) 

Used for actions happening now or general statements.

Click on the 🔊 button to hear the pronunciation of each verb conjugation.

Subject	Conjugation	Audio
Yo	voy	🔊
Tú	vas	🔊
Él/Ella/Usted	va	🔊
Nosotros/Nosotras	vamos	🔊
Vosotros/Vosotras	vais	🔊
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	van	🔊

 

One of the easiest ways to talk about the future in Spanish is by using "ir a + infinitive".

🔹 Fórmula: Ir (conjugated) + a + verb in infinitive

Pronoun	Conjugation
Yo	voy a + infinitive
Tú	vas a + infinitive
Él/Ella/Usted	va a + infinitive
Nosotros/Nosotras	vamos a + infinitive
Vosotros/Vosotras	vais a + infinitive
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	van a + infinitive

 

📌 Example sentences:

Voy a estudiar español. (I’m going to study Spanish) 📖

¿Vas a viajar este verano? (Are you going to travel this summer?) 🌍

💡 Why use "ir a"? It’s an easy and natural way to talk about future plans without using complicated tenses!

⏳ How do you say "ir" in the past? 

In Spanish, "ir" has two main past tenses: the preterite for completed actions and the imperfect for repeated or ongoing actions.

🔴 Preterite of "ir" (Pretérito indefinido) 

Used for completed actions in the past.

📌 Example sentences:

Ayer fui al museo. (Yesterday I went to the museum) 🖼️

¿Adónde fuiste el fin de semana? (Where did you go this weekend?) 🚗

🟡 Imperfect of "ir" (Pretérito imperfecto) 

Used for ongoing or repeated actions in the past.

📌 Example sentences:

Cuando era niño, iba a la playa todos los veranos. (When I was a child, I used to go to the beach every summer). 🏖️

Íbamos al parque después de la escuela. (We used to go to the park after school). 🎠

💡Remember! The imperfect tense describes repeated actions or background details in the past.

🔮 How do you conjugate the verb "ir" in the simple future?

The simple future tense (futuro simple) of ir is used to talk about actions that will happen in the future without needing the auxiliary "ir a". It is commonly used in formal writing, predictions, and strong intentions.

🔵 Future simple conjugation of "ir" (Futuro simple) 

📌 Example sentences:

Iré a España el próximo verano. (I will go to Spain next summer) 🇪🇸

Iremos a visitar a nuestros abuelos el domingo. (We will go visit our grandparents on Sunday). 👵🏽👴🏽

Si estudias mucho, irás a una buena universidad. (If you study hard, you will go to a good university). 🎓

💡Tip: The simple future tense is often replaced by "ir a + infinitive" in spoken Spanish because it sounds more natural in everyday conversations. However, learning the futuro simple is still important for formal contexts and writing!

💡 Common expressions with "ir" in Spanish 

The verb "ir" is used in many expressions and idioms that are helpful for everyday conversations. Here are some of the most common:

🚀 Ir a por todas (To go all in / To give it your all)

Si quieres aprender español, tienes que ir a por todas. (If you want to learn Spanish, you have to go all in!)

🏃🏽 Irse de marcha (To go out partying)

Esta noche nos vamos de marcha con mis amigos. (Tonight we're going out partying with my friends)

🏠 Irse de casa (To leave home / Move out)

Me fui de casa cuando tenía 18 años. (I moved out when I was 18)

💸 Ir de compras (To go shopping)

¿Vamos de compras este fin de semana? (Shall we go shopping this weekend?)

💡 Using these expressions will help you sound more natural when speaking Spanish!

Mastering the conjugation of the verb "ir" in Spanish is essential for effective communication. Whether you're making plans with ir a + infinitive, describing past events with fui or iba, or using everyday expressions like ir de compras, this verb is everywhere in Spanish!

Although "ir" is irregular, its conjugations appear in countless conversations, making it one of the most useful verbs to learn. Now that you know how to use it in different tenses and contexts, why not challenge yourself? Try writing a short paragraph about a trip you took, your future plans, or your daily routine using different forms of "ir."

👇✍️ Now do these exercises to practice ✍️👇

💬 What’s the most useful form of "ir" for you? Do you find its conjugation difficult? Share your thoughts in the comments! 🚀

Would you like to practise what you have learnt orally with us?

Take our level test and book a free lesson!