# Ir vs venir: stricter than go vs come

> id: contrast.ir-venir · category: contrast · depth: standard · levels: A2 · review: internally_reviewed

**Summary.** Venir = motion toward the speaker's location; ir = everywhere else — including toward the listener: ya voy ('I'm coming [to you]'), not *ya vengo.

Spanish ties these verbs to the speaker's location more strictly than English does. Venir means motion toward where the speaker is; ir means motion to anywhere else — including toward the listener. So when you head to someone's party, you say voy a tu fiesta ('I'm coming to your party'), because you, the speaker, are not there yet.

The classic case is answering a knock or a call: ya voy ('I'm coming [to you]'), never *ya vengo. ¿Puedo ir contigo? is 'can I come with you?'. By contrast, ya vengo / ahora vengo means 'I'll be right back' — you leave and return to here.

Llevar/traer follow the same axis for carrying things (take away / bring here). And venirse adds a sense of finality or relocation: se vino a vivir a Santa Cruz ('he moved to Santa Cruz'). The mental test: am I moving toward my own current spot? Then venir; otherwise ir.

## Examples
- ¿Venís a mi oficina o voy yo a la tuya? — Are you coming to my office or shall I go to yours?
- Tocan el timbre. — ¡Ya voy! — The doorbell's ringing. — Coming!
- Si querés, voy yo a tu casa y de paso te llevo el libro. — If you want, I'll go to your place and bring the book along.

Related: contrast.llevar-traer, contrast.salir-irse-dejar

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