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How to Say ‘I have to go now’ in Mexican Spanish

Ya me tengo que ir

yah meh TEHN-goh keh eer

[yah meh TEHN-goh keh eer]

💬 Usage Tip: tengo que plus a plain verb means "I have to": tengo que trabajar "I have to work". The me belongs to irse "to leave" and can move to the end: ya tengo que irme.

Phrase Breakdown

Ya me tengo

yah meh TEHN-goh

Now I have (to)

'Ya' here means 'now' or 'already.' 'Me' goes before 'tengo' because the verb is 'irse' (to leave). Stress 'TEN-go.'

Example

Ya me tengo que dormir.

I have to go to sleep now.

Words in this phrase

Ya

[yah]

now (emphasis)

Adds the sense of 'now I get it'.

Example

Ya entiendo.

Now I understand.

me

[meh]

myself

Reflexive pronoun for 'I'; with llamar it means 'I call myself'.

Example

Me lavo las manos.

I wash my hands.

tengo

[TEHN-goh]

have

Possess, own, or hold.

Example

Tengo una hermana.

I have a sister.

que ir

keh eer

to go / to leave

'Tener que' plus an infinitive means 'to have to.' Blend 'que ir' into 'keh-EER.'

Example

Tengo que ir al banco.

I have to go to the bank.

Words in this phrase

que

[keh]

to (in 'tener que')

Forms 'tener que' = to have to.

Example

Tengo que trabajar.

I have to work.

ir

[eer]

to go / leave

Infinitive of 'ir'; with 'me' means to leave.

Example

Quiero ir al mercado.

I want to go to the market.

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