Do these two phrases just mean the same thing?

Question

These two phrases,

Do these two phrases mean I have to leave? 'Tengo que irme' and 'me tengo que ir'

If they do mean the same thing then why is the 'me' put in front of tengo and not always after ir?

Answer 1

The placement of the pronoun does not make a difference in meaning- they both mean I have to leave. No one can tell you why they are both allowed, the language just developed to allow it that way, just as in English where we have more than one way to say the same thing in many cases.

Native Spanish speakers when speaking tend to put it in front more commonly I think. English speakers seem to prefer attaching them. See also this answer I did the other day:

http://www.spanishdict.com/answers/283910/do-you-conjugate-reflexive-verbs-if-they-follow-an-already-conjugated-verb/mostvotes

The pronouns can be before the conjugated verb, or attached to an infinitive or gerundio:

¿Se pueden lavar la cara? or ¿Pueden lavarse la cara?

"También se tienen que bañar" or "También tienen que bañarse"

This is one of the things about Spanish that drives English speakers crazy. - Daniela2041, May 28, 2016

Answer 2

I agree with Bosquederoble. To my ear - Mexico City Spanish - Tengo que irme sounds slightly more elementary than with the pronoun at the front, but in the end both variants have exactly the same meaning and nuance.

On signs and announcements it´s also more common when the pronoun is at the front, ie: Aquí se puede bañar rather than Aquí puede bañarse.

Answer 3

I have used "Tengo que irme" and "tengo que salir." The beautiful thing about language is that there are many ways to express one thought.