How to Say Your Own Weekend Plans in Spanish: 'Voy a ir de excursión' and 'Me quedo en casa descansando'
Learn to state your own upcoming weekend activities in Latin American Spanish using ir a + infinitive, the present progressive, and simple present for near-future plans.
By PookieFriends & plans · Yapr Learn
When you talk about your own weekend schedule in Spanish, you usually are not inviting anyone. You are simply saying what you are going to do. The most common beginner-friendly way is ir a + infinitive: Voy a ir de excursión. You can also use the present progressive for something already arranged: Estoy descansando en casa este fin de semana. This lesson gives you phrases for hiking, relaxing, visiting family, working, and staying home, plus the grammar to change the person and time.
By the end, you can…
- say what I am going to do this weekend using ir a + infinitive.
- say I am just relaxing at home or going hiking without inviting the listener.
- ask someone what they are going to do, then answer about my own plans.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Este fin de semana voy a ir de excursión.
This weekend I'm going hiking.
EHS-teh feen deh seh-MAH-nah boy ah eer deh ehks-koor-SYOHN
Use ir de excursión for a hike or day trip outdoors. Voy a ir literally means 'I'm going to go,' and it is completely normal in Spanish.
El sábado voy a hacer una caminata.
On Saturday I'm going to take a hike.
el SAH-bah-doh boy ah ah-SEHR oo-nah kah-mee-NAH-tah
Caminata is common in Latin America for a walk or hike. In Spain, senderismo is more common for hiking as an activity.
Solo voy a descansar en casa.
I'm just going to relax at home.
SOH-loh boy ah dehs-kahn-SAHR en KAH-sah
Solo means 'just' or 'only.' This answers 'What are you doing?' without inviting the other person.
Me quedo en casa todo el fin de semana.
I'm staying home all weekend.
meh KEH-doh en KAH-sah TOH-doh el feen deh seh-MAH-nah
The simple present me quedo is very natural for a near-future plan already decided.
Voy a visitar a mi familia el domingo.
I'm going to visit my family on Sunday.
boy ah vee-see-TAHR ah mee fah-MEE-leeah el doh-MEEN-goh
Use the personal a before mi familia because it is a direct object referring to people: visitar a mi familia.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The main future pattern for beginners is ir a + infinitive. Conjugate ir: yo voy, tú vas, usted va, nosotros vamos. Then add an infinitive: Voy a ir de excursión. Vas a descansar. Vamos a visitar a mi familia. You can put the time expression at the beginning or end: Este fin de semana voy a ir de excursión or Voy a ir de excursión este fin de semana. For a plan you have already arranged, the simple present also works: Me quedo en casa. Estoy en casa todo el fin de semana.
When to use it
Use ir a + infinitive when you are stating an intention or plan: Voy a hacer una caminata el sábado. Use the simple present when the plan is fixed or part of your routine: El domingo trabajo. Use the present progressive for something happening around now or already arranged: Estoy descansando en casa este fin de semana. To ask about someone else without making an invitation, say ¿Qué vas a hacer este fin de semana? or ¿Tienes planes para el sábado? These are questions, not invitations.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
¿Qué vas a hacer este fin de semana?
What are you going to do this weekend?keh bahs ah ah-SEHR EHS-teh feen deh seh-MAH-nahEl sábado voy a ir de excursión con unos amigos.
On Saturday I'm going hiking with some friends.el SAH-bah-doh boy ah eer deh ehks-koor-SYOHN kohn OO-nohs ah-MEE-gohs¡Qué bien! ¿Y el domingo?
How nice! And on Sunday?keh byehn ee el doh-MEEN-gohEl domingo solo voy a descansar en casa.
On Sunday I'm just going to relax at home.el doh-MEEN-goh SOH-loh boy ah dehs-kahn-SAHR en KAH-sahA little context goes a long way
In much of Latin America, weekend plans are often stated with ir a + infinitive or the simple present, and the question ¿Qué vas a hacer? is neutral, not an invitation. If you want to invite someone, you usually add ¿Quieres venir? or ¿Te gustaría ir? Without that, your statement is understood as your own schedule. Regional vocabulary also varies: caminata and excursión are widely understood, while senderismo is more common in Spain.
One thing to watch for
Using Voy a ir de excursión to mean 'I'm going hiking right now.'
Try this instead: Voy a ir de excursión refers to a future or intended plan. For right now, say Estoy de excursión or Estoy haciendo una caminata. Example: Ahora estoy de excursión en las montañas.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you say 'This weekend I'm going to relax at home' using ir a + infinitive?
Show a sample answer
Este fin de semana voy a descansar en casa.
Voy a + descansar expresses your own future plan. You can also say Me quedo en casa descansando, which uses the simple present for a fixed plan.
2What is the difference between ¿Qué vas a hacer este fin de semana? and ¿Quieres hacer algo este fin de semana?
Show a sample answer
The first asks about the other person's plans; the second is an invitation to do something together.
¿Qué vas a hacer? is an information question. ¿Quieres hacer algo? invites the listener. Both are correct, but they have different social purposes.
3Translate: 'On Sunday I'm going to visit my family.'
Show a sample answer
El domingo voy a visitar a mi familia.
Use visitar a mi familia with the personal a because the direct object is people. El domingo can go at the beginning or end: Voy a visitar a mi familia el domingo.
To talk about your own weekend plans, use voy a + infinitive for intentions and the simple present for fixed plans. Add solo or en casa when you mean 'just relaxing at home,' and remember that a plain statement is not an invitation.
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