Have you ever been stuck deciding between “go” and “come”? You are not the only one. The distinction IR vs VENIR is one of the most common doubts of Spanish learners, even at advanced levels. The difference between IR vs VENIR is not only in the grammar, but in the perspective from which you speak. Mastering these verbs will allow you to express yourself with the precision of a native speaker.
The Fundamental Difference in IR vs VENIR: Point of View
🚶♂️ IR (GO) – Move away from the place where you are
“IR” means movement FROM where you are TO another place. It is like an arrow going outward from you.
Present conjugation verb IR:
Yo voy
Tú vas
Él/Ella va
Nosotros vamos
Vosotros vais
Ellos van
🏃♀️VENIR – Getting Closer to Where You Are
“VENIR ” (Coming) means movement FROM another place TOWARDS where you are. It is like an arrow coming towards you.
Present Conjugation verb VENIR
Yo vengo
Tú vienes
Él/Ella viene
Nosotros venimos
Vosotros venís
Ellos vienen
The Key: Where is the Movement Going?
To correctly apply IR vs VENIR in any situation. Imagine that each verb is an arrow. To choose the correct direction of that arrow, think about this:
✈️ Use IR When:
You move away from where you are now:
“Voy al supermercado” (you are at home, you go to the supermarket).
“Van a Madrid” (they are here, they travel to Madrid).
” Vas a la fiesta?” (Are you going to the party?) (from where they are now, towards the party).
“Vamos al cine esta noche?” (Let’s go to the movies tonight) (from here, to the movies).
🏠 Use VENIR When:
Someone is approaching where you are:
“¿Vienes a mi casa?” (Are you coming to my house?) (from where the person is, to where I am).
“Mi hermano viene mañana” (My brother is coming tomorrow) (from where he is, to where I am).
“Ven aquí” (Come here) (from there, to where I am).
“¿De dónde vienes?” (Where are you coming from?) (from what place to where I am).
Everyday Situations Explained
For complete mastery IR vs VENIRYou need to see these verbs working in real contexts. These are the everyday situations where this difference is most applicable.
📞 In Telephone Conversations
Imagine you are at home and you call a friend:
YOU (from home): “¿Vienes a mi casa esta tarde?” (Are you coming to my house this afternoon?)
You use VENIR because you want it to come closer to where you are.
YOUR FRIEND: “Sí, voy en una hora (Yes, I’ll be there in an hour)
Use IR because it will move away from where he is towards your house.
🎉 Organizing a Party
Organizer (at the party venue): ” ¿Vienes a la fiesta?” (Are you coming to the party?)
He uses VENIR because he wants them to come to where he is.
Guest: “Sí, voy a las nueve (Yes, I’ll be there at nine o’clock.)
Use IR because it moves away from where you are towards the party.
🏢 At Work
Boss (from the office): ” María, ¿puedes venir a mi oficina? (Maria, can you come to my office?)
He uses VENIR because he wants it to come closer to where he is.
Maria: “Sí, voy ahora mismo” (Yes, I’m coming right now).
Use IR because it moves away from where it is towards the boss’s office.
Common Mistakes in IR vs. VENIR and How to Avoid Them
Many students make the same mistakes with IR vs. VENIR. Here are the most frequent ones:
❌ Typical Error 1:
¿Vas a venir aquí?” ❌Incorrect.
“¿Vienes aquí?” ✅ Right.
No need to “ir + venir ” together
❌ Typical Error 2:
“Vengo al supermercado” (when you are at home) ❌ Incorrect
“Voy al supermercado” ✅ Correct (You walk away from home to the supermarket).
❌ Typical Error 3:
“¿Vas a mi casa?” (when you invite someone) ❌Incorrect.
“¿Vienes a mi casa?” ✅ Right You want him to come over to where you’re going to be.
Special Cases of IR vs. VENIR : When Perspective Changes
The above examples show IR vs VENIR in its most basic form. But when you advance in Spanish, you come across contexts where the IR vs VENIR distinction can be more subtle:
🔄 Speaking of Future Plans
When you plan to be in a future place, you can use COME:
“Mañana voy a estar en el parque. ¿Vienes?” (I’m going to be in the park tomorrow – are you coming?)
Although you are not in the park now, you plan to be there, so you use VENIR.
🗺️ With Countries and Cities
Desde España: “Vengo de México” (desde México hacia España) Desde México: “Voy a España” (desde México hacia España)
The perspective of the speaker determines the verb.
Important Fixed Expressions
Your mastery of IR vs VENIR will not be complete without knowing the set phrases and fixed expressions that are part of everyday Spanish:
With the verb IR:
“¡Vamos!” – ¡Let’s go!
“¿Cómo va todo?” – How’s everything going?
“Va bien” – It’s going well
“Ir de compras” – To go shopping
With the verb VENIR:
“Ven aquí!” – Come here!
“Venir bien” – To be convenient
“¿De dónde vienes?” – Where are you coming from?
“Venir al caso” – To be relevant
It’s time to test everything you’ve learned about IR vs. VENIR. These exercises will help you confirm that you’ve really mastered the difference.
Practical Exercise: IR vs VENIR
Tips for Remembering to IR vs VENIR Forever
1. Display Arrows for IR vs VENIR
IR = arrow pointing outward ➡️ VENIR = arrow pointing towards you ⬅️
2. Think About Your Location
Before choosing IR vs. VENIR, ask yourself, “¿Dónde estoy yo ahora?” (Where am I now?)
3. Practice IR vs. VENIR with Real Situations
Every time you leave or arrive home, think about what verb you would use.
4. Use Gestures to IR vs. VENIR
GO: points outward VENIR : points toward you
5. Repeats typical IR vs VENIR phrases.
“¿Vienes a mi casa?” / “Voy a tu casa” (Are you coming to my house?” / “I’m coming to your house) – memorize these structures.
6. Telephone Context
In calls, IR vs VENIR is always clear: you invite = VENIR , you accept = IR.
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