When to use the Spanish verbs Ir y Venir

One question that beginning Spanish learners often have trouble with is when to use the verbs come and go in Spanish. In other words, when do I say I’m going and when do I say I’m going?

In fact, when to use the verb “come” instead of “go” is a topic in Spanish that always drove me crazy when I started learning the language. I don’t remember how many times I said to a Latino friend over the phone or elsewhere, “Vengo a tu casa” (I’m going to your house) or “I’m coming to the store now” (now I’m going to the store). or a similar phrase. Only to be corrected and said “No, tell me ‘you go'” (“No, tell me ‘you go'”)

My response used to be something like “I’m going to your house, I’m going to your house. What’s the difference?”

Well, in American conversational English there is no difference. In conversational American English, I can say “I’m going to go to your house.” Or I can say “I’m going to your house.” And I can say anyone without fear of being corrected even by an English scholar, unless of course it is a UK English scholar. Note that the UK English rules on when to use coming vs. going are identical to the Spanish language rules about when to use come vs. go.

Unlike American conversational English, the verbs to come (come) and go (go) are not interchangeable in Spanish.

The general rule of thumb for Spanish textbooks is that you cannot come to a place other than where you are at the moment. You can only go (go) to a location other than where you are at the moment. “Come” is used to refer to your current location. Where are you at that very moment. Or in a much broader sense, the city, state or country where you are currently located.

Like I said, that’s the textbook rule. But I have my own rule of thumb. And it has worked well for me for years. And now I want to share it with you …

I think of the Spanish verb “to come” in the same way that I think of the English verb “to arrive” (“to arrive”)

Surely, I wouldn’t tell a friend on the phone, in any language, that “I’m coming to your house now” when I’m still at home putting on my jacket. Well, maybe I would if I was on my cell phone and he or she had no idea where I really was and didn’t want him or her to realize how late I was going to be. But that’s not the point I’m trying to make.

If in English you would not use the verb “to arrive”, then you would not use the verb “to come (to come)” in Spanish.

“For example” (for example), if I am ready to leave my house to go to a friend’s house, I would not call and say “I am coming to your house now” (except as mentioned above).

So I wouldn’t use the Spanish verb “come” in this case. Instead, you would use “ir” (to go) or “irse” (to go).

I’m going to your house now (I’m going to your house now)

I’m leaving now (I’m leaving now)

Hope this helps you determine when to use the verb “come” and when to use “go”.