When you tell someone you are going out with friends, on a date, or have an appointment in English, there are a few different ways to convey each sentiment. Spanish is no different. Here are some basics Spanish words and phrases that will help you sound more natural.
Going out / leaving the house
When you are going out, as in out of the house, you’ll want to use the verb salir. Salir can mean to go out in a casual sense or on a date. You just have to use contextual words to convey what sort of going out you plan to do.
Hanging out
The term “hanging out” roughly translates to pasar tiempo. For example, Me gusta pasar tiempo con mis amigos, means “I like to hang out with my friends. You can also use pasar el rato in the same way. You will also hear juntarse con which basically means “to meet up with.” In Puerto Rico, they keep it simple and just say janguear.
Going on a date
The word for “date” is technically cita, but that can also mean “appointment.” Once again, you’ll need to depend on context to make sure you get the point across. Usually, it’s pretty obvious. If someone says tengo una cita con mi dentista, it’s fairly likely it’s an appointment. However, if the person was actually going on a date with their dentist, they could clarify by saying cita romántica.
Can you think of any other basic Spanish words or phrases used for going out?
Check out these other articles about the Spanish Language.