How to say “let's go” in Spanish
The most common way to say "let's go" in Spanish is "¡Vamos!" (BAH-mohs). Use "¡Vámonos!" when you mean "let's leave" or "let's get out of here." To say "let's go to" a place or "let's do" something, use "vamos a" plus the place or a verb, as in "Vamos a la playa" (Let's go to the beach).
How to pronounce “¡Vamos!”
- The Spanish 'v' sounds like a soft 'b', so say 'BAH-mohs', not 'VAH-mohs'.
- Keep both vowels short and pure: 'a' as in 'father' and 'o' as in 'more', with no 'oh-oo' glide.
- The final 's' is a clear hiss like in 'yes', never a 'z' sound. In parts of the Caribbean and Argentina it may sound like a soft 'h' or disappear.
What it literally means
"Vamos" is the "we" form of the verb "ir" (to go), so it literally means "we go" or "we're going." The same form doubles as the "let's" command. "Vámonos" adds the pronoun "nos" (ourselves), and the final -s of "vamos" drops before it.
Other ways to say it, from casual to formal
- ¡Dale!Come on, let's do it! · agreeing or cheering someone on (Southern Cone, Caribbean)Very casual
- ¡Ándale!Come on! Let's go! · urging someone to hurry (Mexico)Very casual
- ¡Vámonos!Let's get going / Let's leave · leaving a place, heading outCasual
- ¡Vamos ya!Let's go now! · hurrying someone alongCasual
- Vamos a + verbLet's (do something) · suggesting an activityNeutral
- Nos vamosWe're leaving / We're off · announcing your departureNeutral
- ¿Nos vamos?Shall we go? · politely suggesting you leaveNeutral
- VayamosLet us go · formal speeches or writingFormal
By country
- ¡Órale, vámonos!Mexico · "Órale" adds energy, like "Alright, let's go!" "¡Ándale!" is also very common.
- ¡Venga, vamos!Spain · "Venga" (literally "come") is Spain's go-to word for "come on."
- ¡Dale, vamos!Argentina & Uruguay · "Dale" means "OK, come on" and is heard constantly.
- ¡Hágale!Colombia · A casual "go for it / let's do it." "¡Vamos, pues!" is also typical.
- ¡Ya po, vamos!Chile · "Po" (from "pues") is a very Chilean filler word that adds emphasis.
In text messages
Example sentences
- ¡Vamos, que llegamos tarde!Let's go, we're going to be late!
- Vamos a la playa el sábado.Let's go to the beach on Saturday.
- Ya es tarde. ¡Vámonos!It's late. Let's go!
- ¿Vamos al cine esta noche?Shall we go to the movies tonight?
- Vamos a comer algo, tengo hambre.Let's go eat something, I'm hungry.
- Si terminamos temprano, vamos a caminar por el parque.If we finish early, let's go for a walk in the park.
Mini dialogue: Leaving for the movies
How to reply
- ¡Vamos!Let's go!
- ¡Dale!OK, let's do it!
- Un momento, ya voy.One moment, I'm coming.
- Espérame un poco.Wait for me a bit.
Grammar: Vamos a + infinitive or place
To say "let's go to" a place, use "vamos a" + the place. To say "let's do" something, use "vamos a" + a verb in the infinitive. Remember that a + el becomes "al." The same structure can also mean "we're going to," and context or intonation shows which meaning is intended.
- Vamos al mercado.Let's go to the market.
- Vamos a bailar.Let's dance.
Common mistakes
Culture tip
"¡Vamos!" is everywhere: friends heading out, parents hurrying kids, and fans cheering a team ("¡Vamos, México!"). Natives often pair it with a quick hand wave toward the door or a clap. In many places, saying "Nos vamos" at a party starts a long round of goodbyes, so people say it well before they actually leave.
