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"Go" is an intransitive verb which is often translated as "ir", and "can" is an auxiliary verb which is often translated as "poder". Learn more about the difference between "go" and "can" below.
go(
go
)An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
a. ir
Does this bus go to the city center?¿Va este bus al centro de la ciudad?
Go to your room.Ve a tu habitación.
2. (to leave)
a. ir
I hope everything goes well for you in the new job.Espero que todo te vaya bien en el trabajo nuevo.
4. (to become)
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
Carla went white with fear.Carla se puso blanca de miedo.
The fans went crazy when the band came on stage.Los fans se enloquecieron cuando el grupo salió al escenario.
6. (to extend)
8. (to be left)
10. (to fit)
11. (to be sold)
a. ir al baño
She had bladder problems and needed to go all the time.Tenía problemas de la vejiga y tenía que ir al baño constantemente.
14. (to be the rule)
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
Anything goes in that household.Todo vale en esa casa.
What I say goes.Yo soy la que manda aquí.
15. (to die)
a. llegar la hora
When I go, I don't want a big funeral.Cuando me llegue la hora, no quiero un gran funeral.
16. (to be consumed)
18. (to disappear)
a. desaparecer
When she got back home, her husband was gone.Cuando volvió a casa, su marido había desaparecido.
20. (to dispose of)
a. deshacerse de
All your old clothes have to go if you want to buy more.Tienes que deshacerte de toda tu ropa vieja si quieres comprar más.
22. (to be)
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
I won't let my children go hungry.No voy a dejar que mi hijos pasen hambre.
Their pleas went unheard.Sus súplicas no fueron atendidas.
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
I'll have whatever's going.Tomaré lo que haya.
There's plenty of beer going around if you're interested.Hay mucha cerveza por aquí si quieres.
24. (to continue)
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
How many years has the choir been going?¿Cuántos años lleva funcionando el coro?
She would go for days without seeing another soul.Pasaba días enteros sin ver a un alma.
a. sonar
The alarm goes off if someone forces the door.La alarma suena cuando alguien fuerza la puerta.
26. (to be destined)
b. llevarse
First prize went to a graphic designer.El primer premio se lo llevó un diseñador gráfico.
27. (to match)
A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
28. (to travel)
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
We went 70 miles in one day.Hicimos 70 millas en un día.
We'll go this way because there is less traffic.Seguiremos este camino porque hay menos tráfico.
29. (colloquial) (to say)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
An auxiliary verb, or helper verb, is a conjugated verb that comes before a main verb and determines the main verb's tense, mood, or aspect (e.g., I have gone.).
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
Don't touch that! - I wasn't going to.¡No toques eso! - No pensaba hacerlo.
I'm going to mow the lawn this afternoon.Voy a cortar el césped esta tarde.
A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling, or idea (e.g., man, dog, house).
to-go
A phrase is a group of words commonly used together (e.g., once upon a time).
35. (idiom) (to be eaten elsewhere)
An idiom is a phrase with a meaning different from the literal meaning of the separate words that make it up (e.g., break a leg).
a. para llevar
I don't think I can finish all this food. Would you bring me a to-go box?No creo que pueda terminar toda esta comida. ¿Me traería una cajita para llevar?
We ordered our food to go so that we could continue working.Pedimos la comida para llevar para poder continuar trabajando.
36. (idiom) (remaining)
An idiom is a phrase with a meaning different from the literal meaning of the separate words that make it up (e.g., break a leg).
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
Only one day to go until your birthday!¡Solo falta un día para tu cumpleaños!
Two weeks to go until Holy Week.Faltan dos semanas para Semana Santa.
can(
kahn
)An auxiliary verb, or helper verb, is a conjugated verb that comes before a main verb and determines the main verb's tense, mood, or aspect (e.g., I have gone.).
a. poder
Can I go out with Jennifer on Friday night?¿Puedo salir con Jennifer el viernes por la noche?
a. poder
If you like, you can have the salad with the dressing on the side.Si desea, puede pedir la ensalada con el aderezo al lado.
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
I can't tell if it's going to rain or snow.No sé si va a llover o nevar.
I couldn't see because of the brightness of that light.No veía por culpa del resplandor de esa luz.
A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling, or idea (e.g., man, dog, house).
5. (container)
b. el bote (M)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
Do you think one can of paint will be enough for the whole room?¿Crees que con un bote de pintura nos llega para toda la habitación?
6. (colloquial) (toilet) (United States)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in the United States
8. (colloquial) (prison) (United States)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in the United States
a. la cana (F) (colloquial) (Cuba) (South America)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in Cuba
Regionalism used in South America: Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela
They met when Mick was in the can.Se conocieron cuando Mick estuvo en la cana.
b. el bote (M) (colloquial) (Central America) (Mexico) (South America)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in Central America: Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama
Regionalism used in Mexico
Regionalism used in South America: Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela
His dad's in the can for dealing.Su padre está en el bote por traficar droga.
c. la chirona (F) (slang) (Spain)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
A very informal word or phrase used by a particular group or community as a substitute for standard language (e.g., joint, john).
Regionalism used in Spain
They threw him in the can for armed robbery.Lo tiraron a la chirona por robo armado.
9. (colloquial) (buttocks) (United States)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in the United States
a. el culo (M) (colloquial)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Rob deserves a good kick in the can for that.Rob se merece una buena patada en el culo por eso.
A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
a. enlatar
She usually cans vegetables for the homeless every December.Suele enlatar verduras para la gente sin hogar cada diciembre.
11. (slang) (to fire) (United States)
A very informal word or phrase used by a particular group or community as a substitute for standard language (e.g., joint, john).
Regionalism used in the United States
a. poner de patitas en la calle (slang)
A very informal word or phrase used by a particular group or community as a substitute for standard language (e.g., joint, john).
My boss canned me for reading comics at work.El jefe me puso de patitas en la calle por leer cómics en el trabajo.
