Vamos vs. Vaminos!

Huh?

Published on November 24, 2003 By Splateaux In Blogging

Okay, so just like everyone else in the world, I took some Spanish in high school. Then after joining the military, I was stationed in San Antonio for around 5 years. Spanish (the Mexican version) is a VERY close second in the race for the most prominent language in that area.

I've always been confused about something though... I learned the word 'vamos' meant literally 'we go.' It's the 'We' conjurgation of 'Voy' meaning 'to go.' Whenever they say this in a movie though, they always say, "Vaminos." What the heck is that?!

Are they just saying it wrong? Is it a fancy new word I didn't know?

Dang it!! I was just about to look up both words in bablefish's translation thingy, but it's blocked from work now

Anyone have any clues?

I've always assumed it's a slang way of saying it, but maybe there's more to it than that.

Comments

russellmz

on Nov 24, 2003

i forgot the exact reason my teacher said, but it is close to what you said. it's used with people you're very familiar with.

probably like yes and yeah: but mean the same thing but you use one more often with friends than strangers.

kthxbye

on Nov 24, 2003

Ahem. First - the verb 'to go' is 'ir' not 'voy'. Voy is the first person singular conjugation of 'ir' (an irregular verb.)

(Yo) voy al almacén.

As for vamos y vamonos - both are correct conjugations of the 'we' form of ir. They're different tenses/usages however. Vamos is the standard present tense conjugation, and vamonos is the imperative form of the same.

Splateaux

on Nov 24, 2003

I think it's really "the man" trying to keep us all down!

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