Kids getting out of school
Salir is an extremely versatile verb, and it can have a lot of different meanings; some Spanish dictionaries list over 40 alternatives for salir.
Its most common meanings can be grouped into a few categories:
- To exit: as in to come out, to go out, or to get out of somewhere.
- To depart: as in to leave a certain place or set off for somewhere.
- To appear: including to sprout, to come through or to come. In more specific cases it can mean to rise (as in "the sun rises") or to be made public.
- To originate from somewhere.
- To go out with friends, or to date someone.
- To get a result.
- To lead to somewhere.
- To cost a certain price.
Conjugations
Salir isn't just complicated in meaning, it also happens to be an irregular verb. However, the tables and examples below should help you master this complexity.
Present
|
Yo |
salgo |
Nosotros/Nosotras |
salimos |
|
Tú (Vos) |
sales (salís) |
Vosotros/Vosotras |
salís |
|
Él/Ella/Usted |
sale |
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes |
salen |
Examples:
- Salgo de trabajar a las seis. - I leave work at six.
- Las entradas para el concierto salen USD 100. - The tickets for the concert cost USD 100.
Imperfect
|
Yo |
salía |
Nosotros/Nosotras |
salíamos |
|
Tú/Vos |
salías |
Vosotros/Vosotras |
salíais |
|
Él/Ella/Usted |
salía |
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes |
salían |
Examples:
- Con mis hermanos salíamos a jugar todas las tardes. – My brothers and I went out to play every afternoon.
- Apretaba "imprimir", pero no salían las hojas. - I pressed "print", but the pages wouldn't come out.
Preterite
|
Yo |
salí |
Nosotros/Nosotras |
salimos |
|
Tú/Vos |
saliste |
Vosotros/Vosotras |
salisteis |
|
Él/Ella/Usted |
salió |
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes |
salieron |
Examples:
- Juana debe estar por llegar, ya salió de su casa. - Juana must be about to get here; she already left her house.
- ¿Ya salió el tren para Córdoba? - Has the train for Córdoba already left?
Future
|
Yo |
saldré |
Nosotros/Nosotras |
saldremos |
|
Tú/Vos |
saldrás |
Vosotros/Vosotras |
saldréis |
|
Él/Ella/Usted |
saldrá |
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes |
saldrán |
Examples:
- ¿Mañana saldrás con Mariana? - Are you going out with Mariana tomorrow?
- El sol saldrá a las 5 a. m. - The sun will rise at 5 a. m.
Conditional
|
Yo |
saldría |
Nosotros/Nosotras |
saldríamos |
|
Tú/Vos |
saldrías |
Vosotros/Vosotras |
saldríais |
|
Él/Ella/Usted |
saldría |
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes |
saldrían |
Examples:
- La nueva puerta saldría al jardín. - The new door would lead to the garden.
- Saldría con él si me invitara. - I would go out with him if he asked me out.
Don't let the many meanings of salir put you off from learning it. Practice enough, and you will find yourself using this verb in all kinds of situations.