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How to Say ‘I had to go around by Insurgentes.’ in Mexican Spanish

Tuve que irme por Insurgentes

TOO-beh keh EER-meh pohr een-soor-HEHN-tehs

[TOO-beh keh EER-meh pohr een-soor-HEHN-tehs]

🇲🇽 In Mexico: Insurgentes is one of Mexico City's longest, busiest avenues. A driver naming it is usually explaining a detour or traffic to justify a higher fare.

Phrase Breakdown

Tuve que irme

TOO-beh keh EER-meh

I had to go

Explains a forced choice. Say it as one smooth phrase.

Example

Tuve que irme en taxi.

I had to go by taxi.

Words in this phrase

Tuve

[TOO-beh]

I had

Past tense of 'tener'; 'tuve que' means 'I had to'.

Example

Tuve que esperar.

I had to wait.

que

[keh]

to

In 'tener que' it expresses obligation.

Example

Tengo que pagar.

I have to pay.

irme

[EER-meh]

to go (myself)

'Irse' with 'me' attached: to go, take a route.

Example

Voy a irme temprano.

I'm going to leave early.

por Insurgentes

pohr een-soor-HEHN-tehs

along Insurgentes

'Por' here means 'by way of'. Insurgentes is a major avenue in Mexico City. The 'g' before 'e' sounds like a breathy 'h': een-soor-HEN-tes.

Example

Vete por Insurgentes, es más rápido.

Go along Insurgentes, it's faster.

Words in this phrase

por

[pohr]

along / via

Indicates the route taken.

Example

Vamos por Reforma.

Let's go along Reforma.

Insurgentes

[een-soor-HEHN-tehs]

Insurgentes (avenue)

Major avenue in Mexico City, one of the longest.

Example

Hay tráfico en Insurgentes.

There's traffic on Insurgentes.

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