Sofia · Learn Spanish How to say it in Spanish How to Say Let's Go in Spanish (+ Variations You'll Hear)
Let’s go in Spanish is vamos — the word soccer stadiums run on. But Spanish actually splits “let’s go” into two words English mashes together: vamos (“let’s go [to somewhere]”) and vámonos (“let’s leave [from here]”). Add the shape-shifting Mexican classic ándale — which can mean “hurry up,” “exactly!,” or “okay, deal” depending on tone — and you’ve got a tiny phrase family that carries a huge share of everyday conversation.
The main way to say it
Vamos — pronounced BAH-mohs.
The pronunciation details that matter:
- The Spanish v sounds like a soft English b: BAH-mohs, not VAH-mohs. There is no v/b distinction in Spanish — vamos and a hypothetical “bamos” would sound identical.
- Stress falls on the first syllable: BAH-mohs. Two clean beats.
- Vámonos is three syllables with the stress up front — BAH-moh-nohs — which is exactly what the accent mark on vá is signaling.
Now the distinction that separates learners from speakers:
- Vamos = let’s go — heading toward something, often named: Vamos a la playa (“let’s go to the beach”), vamos a comer (“let’s go eat”).
- Vámonos = let’s leave — away from here, destination irrelevant: the party’s dead, the check is paid, vámonos.
The grammar behind it: vámonos is vamos + the reflexive nos (from irse, “to leave”), with one s dropped for pronunciation. You don’t need the theory — you need the instinct: naming a destination? Vamos. Just want out? Vámonos.
Bonus structure: vamos a + infinitive is also how Spanish says “we’re going to…” — vamos a ver (“let’s see / we’ll see”) might be the single most-used phrase in the language.
Variations
| Phrase | Meaning | Register |
|---|---|---|
| Vamos | Let’s go (toward something) | Universal |
| Vámonos | Let’s leave / let’s get out of here | Universal, casual |
| ¡Vamos! | Come on! / Let’s go! (cheering) | Universal — the sports classic |
| Ándale | Come on / hurry up / that’s right | Mexican, very casual |
| Ándale pues | Okay then / alright, deal | Mexican, sealing an agreement |
| Órale | Let’s do it / whoa / okay | Mexican slang, all-purpose |
| Ya vámonos | Come on, let’s go already | Casual, impatient |
| Vámonos ya | Let’s leave right now | Casual, urgent |
| ¿Nos vamos? | Shall we go? | Polite, softer |
| A darle | Let’s get to it / let’s hit it | Mexican, energetic |
Ándale deserves its own paragraph because it does at least four jobs in Mexico: (1) hurry someone up — ¡ándale, que llegamos tarde! (“come on, we’re late!”); (2) agree enthusiastically — ¡ándale, eso es! (“exactly, that’s it!”); (3) close a deal — ándale pues, nos vemos a las ocho (“alright then, see you at eight”); (4) pure filler encouragement, the way English uses “come on.” Tone does all the work.
Órale is its cousin — equal parts “let’s go,” “whoa,” and “okay cool.” Together they’re two of the most Mexican words in existence; use them naturally and you’ll get a delighted double-take.
Hear it in context
Rallying friends to leave the house (casual):
— ¿Ya están listos? Vamos al cine, ¿no? — Sí, ya casi. Cinco minutos. — ¡Ándale, que empieza a las siete! — Ya, ya. ¡Vámonos!
You guys ready? We’re going to the movies, right? — Yeah, almost. Five minutes. — Come on, it starts at seven! — Okay, okay. Let’s go!
Wrapping up a get-together (making plans, very Mexican):
— Bueno, ya es tarde. ¿Nos vamos? — Va. ¿Entonces el sábado vamos al partido? — Ándale pues. Yo compro los boletos. — ¡Órale! Ahí nos vemos.
Well, it’s late. Shall we go? — Cool. So Saturday we’re going to the game? — Alright then. I’ll buy the tickets. — Awesome! See you there.
Common mistakes
- Using “vamos” when you mean “let’s leave.” ¿Vamos? mid-party sounds like “shall we go (somewhere)?” If the message is “I want out of here,” it’s vámonos. Speedy Gonzales had it right: ¡ándale, ándale! ¡Arriba! is about moving now.
- “VAH-mohs” with an English v. Spanish v = soft b. BAH-mohs. This one adjustment upgrades your entire accent, since v appears everywhere.
- “Vámosnos” or “vamonós.” The word is vámonos — one s in the middle, stress on the first syllable. It’s vamos + nos with the first s dropped.
- Thinking “ándale” only means “hurry up.” Reply ándale to someone’s suggestion and you’re agreeing (“right, exactly”), not rushing them. Context and tone decide — listen before you assume someone’s being pushy.
- “Vamos ir al cine.” The structure needs a: vamos a ir, vamos a comer. English “going to eat” hides the preposition; Spanish never drops it.
Related phrases
Once you can get the group moving, polish the moments around it:
- How to say goodbye in Spanish — because vámonos is usually followed by a round of farewells.
- How to say good luck in Spanish — the natural send-off once everyone’s heading out.
- Keep stacking everyday essentials with our guide to common Spanish phrases.
FAQ
What’s the difference between “vamos” and “vámonos”? Direction. Vamos points toward a destination (“let’s go to the beach”); vámonos points away from where you are (“let’s get out of here”). If you’re naming where you’re headed, use vamos; if the point is leaving, vámonos.
What does “ándale” actually mean? It’s a Mexican multi-tool: “hurry up,” “come on,” “exactly!,” or “okay, deal” (ándale pues), all depending on tone and context. It comes from the verb andar (“to walk/go”) plus le, a very Mexican particle that attaches to commands for emphasis.
Is “vamos” or “vamonos” correct for cheering at a game? ¡Vamos! — stadiums worldwide run on it (¡vamos, México!). Vámonos at a game would mean “let’s leave,” which is the opposite of cheering.
What does “órale” mean? It’s all-purpose Mexican slang: “let’s go,” “okay cool,” “whoa,” or “hurry up,” depending on delivery. Like ándale, it’s built from a verb root plus the emphatic -le. Informal, friendly, and extremely Mexican.
Can I say “vamos a ver” for “let’s see”? Yes — vamos a ver (or just a ver) is exactly “let’s see” and gets used constantly: stalling for time, opening a discussion, or checking something. It’s one of the highest-frequency phrases in spoken Spanish.
You can memorize the vamos / vámonos rule in a minute — but choosing the right one at conversation speed takes reps. That’s where Sofia, an AI Spanish tutor you can practice speaking with anytime, comes in.