salía
Wordform Details
Translation: was leavingto leaveto go out
Part of Speech: verb
Inflection Type:
third-personsingularimperfectIs Dictionary Form: No
Dictionary Form Details
Lemma Details
Translation: to go out; to leave; to exit; to come out; to turn out
Part of Speech: verb
Etymology: From Latin 'salīre' meaning 'to jump, leap'. This evolved in meaning to 'to go out' in Spanish. The English word 'salient' (standing out, prominent) shares this Latin root. The semantic shift from 'jumping' to 'exiting' reflects how one might 'leap out' of a place.
Commonality: 95%
Guessability: 30%
Register: neutral
Example Usage
Voy a salir de casa a las ocho.
I'm going to leave home at eight.
El tren sale en diez minutos.
The train leaves in ten minutes.
Salimos a cenar todos los viernes.
We go out for dinner every Friday.
La película salió el año pasado.
The movie came out last year.
Todo salió bien al final.
Everything turned out well in the end.
Mnemonics
- Think of 'salir' as 'sailing away' from a place.
- Remember that 'sal' sounds like the command 'sail!' - as in sail away or leave.
- Connect it to 'sally forth' in English, which means to set out or depart.
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Antonyms
Example Wordforms
Cultural Context
In Spanish-speaking cultures, 'salir' is used in many social contexts, from casual outings ('salir con amigos') to dating ('salir con alguien'). The phrase 'salir adelante' (to get ahead, overcome difficulties) reflects cultural values of perseverance and resilience.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: While both verbs involve movement, 'salir' specifically means to exit or leave a place, whereas 'ir' means to go to a place. 'Salir' focuses on the departure point, while 'ir' focuses on the destination.
Confused word:
Voy a la escuela a las ocho.
I go to school at eight.
Notes: 'Salir' often requires 'de' to indicate what you're leaving, while 'ir' typically uses 'a' to indicate destination.
Mnemonic: 'Salir' starts with 'S' for 'Source' (where you're leaving from); 'Ir' is short like 'In' (where you're going to).
Explanation: 'Salir' means to exit or leave, while 'saltar' means to jump or leap. They share a similar Latin root but have evolved different meanings.
Notes: Both verbs can be used figuratively, but in different contexts: 'saltar a la vista' (to be obvious) vs. 'salir a la luz' (to come to light).
Mnemonic: 'Saltar' has a 't' for 'take off' (jumping), while 'salir' is smoother like sliding out an exit.