The most common phrasing is “no salgas,” and you can extend it to “no salgas de casa” when you mean staying indoors.
You’ve got a simple English line, then Spanish throws you a curve: the verb changes with the person you’re talking to, and negative commands work a bit differently than positive ones. The good news? Once you learn the main patterns, you can say “don’t go out” in a way that sounds natural, polite when needed, and clear in a hurry.
This article gives you the go-to translations, the grammar behind them, and ready-to-use lines you can drop into a text, a sign, or a face-to-face warning. You’ll also see what changes when you mean “don’t leave” instead of “don’t go out,” since English blurs those two ideas a lot.
What “Don’t Go Out” Usually Means In Spanish
In everyday Spanish, “go out” often maps to salir. It covers stepping outside, leaving a building, or heading out for the night. So the usual way to say “don’t go out” is a negative command of salir: no salgas (to one person you address as tú).
When your meaning is “stay inside,” Spanish often makes that explicit with no salgas de casa (“don’t go out of the house”). If you mean “don’t go out tonight” in the social sense, you’ll hear no salgas esta noche. If you mean “don’t leave yet,” Spanish may prefer a different verb, which you’ll learn in a later section.
Why The Verb Form Changes In Negative Commands
Negative commands in Spanish do not use the standalone imperative form. They use present subjunctive forms instead, which is why sal (positive “go out”) becomes no salgas (negative “don’t go out”). Spanish grammar notes explain that negative commands use present subjunctive forms, and pronouns stay in front of the verb.
You don’t need to memorize grammar labels to use the phrase. You just need the right command form for the person you’re speaking to.
Don’t Go Out In Spanish With Natural Variations
Here are the most useful versions, grouped by the person you’re addressing. Think of them as “plug-and-play.” Pick the one that matches tú, usted, or a plural “you,” then add time words or extra detail.
To One Person (Tú)
No salgas. This is the standard everyday line: “Don’t go out.” It fits a friend, a sibling, a partner, or anyone you address as tú.
- No salgas de casa. “Don’t leave the house.”
- No salgas todavía. “Don’t go out yet.”
- No salgas esta noche. “Don’t go out tonight.”
To One Person (Usted)
No salga. This is the polite or formal version. Use it with a customer, an older adult you address with usted, or in a setting where you want distance and respect.
- No salga, por favor. “Please don’t go out.”
- No salga de aquí. “Don’t leave here.” (When “here” is the boundary.)
To More Than One Person
For a group, Spanish varies by region. In Spain you’ll often use vosotros. In Latin America, ustedes is typical for most groups.
- No salgáis. (Spain, informal plural) “Don’t go out.”
- No salgan. (Formal plural, also common for most groups in Latin America) “Don’t go out.”
What About “Vos”?
In voseo regions (common in parts of Argentina, Uruguay, Central America, and elsewhere), the negative command often matches the tú negative form for many verbs. So no salgas is widely understood and commonly used. In local speech you may hear other patterns too, but no salgas keeps you clear and understood in most settings.
When “Don’t Go Out” Means “Don’t Leave”
English “go out” sometimes means “leave this place,” not “step outside.” Spanish can still use salir, but it often chooses irse when the focus is leaving, departing, or heading away from the current spot.
Use These When You Mean “Don’t Leave”
- No te vayas. “Don’t leave.” (tú)
- No se vaya. “Don’t leave.” (usted)
- No se vayan. “Don’t leave.” (plural)
This distinction helps in real life. If someone is at your door and you want them to stay inside, no salgas fits. If they’re already inside with you and you want them to stay longer, no te vayas usually sounds more direct.
Use “Salir” When The Boundary Matters
Use salir when the image is crossing a threshold: out of the house, out of the room, out of the building. The dictionary entry for salir includes the core sense of leaving or going out from an interior space. RAE: “salir” in the DLE is a handy reference if you want the official range of meanings.
Table Of The Most Common Forms You’ll Use
This is the fast “pick the right line” section. Save it, screenshot it, or paste it into your notes app.
| Who You’re Speaking To | Spanish For “Don’t Go Out” | When It Sounds Natural |
|---|---|---|
| One person (tú) | No salgas. | Friends, family, everyday talk. |
| One person (usted) | No salga. | Polite tone, customer service, distance. |
| Group (ustedes) | No salgan. | Most of Latin America; also formal plural anywhere. |
| Group (vosotros) | No salgáis. | Spain, informal plural. |
| “Don’t leave” (tú) | No te vayas. | Stay with me; don’t head off yet. |
| “Don’t leave” (usted) | No se vaya. | Polite “please stay.” |
| “Don’t leave” (plural) | No se vayan. | Asking a group to stay put. |
| “Don’t come out” | No salgas. | Don’t step out of a room, doorway, hiding spot. |
| “Don’t step outside” | No salgas afuera. | Extra clarity when “outside” matters. |
Small Details That Make Your Spanish Sound Native
The right verb form is half the job. The other half is picking the add-ons that match your intent and tone. Spanish is full of these little knobs you can turn: time words, softeners, and boundary words.
Place “No” Right Before The Verb
In standard Spanish, no goes directly before the verb in negative commands: No salgas, No salga, No salgan. The Real Academia Española’s usage notes on no spell out how it sits before the verb, especially when other negative words are around. RAE: “no” in the Diccionario panhispánico de dudas backs this placement.
Choose A Softer Tone Without Losing Clarity
Spanish can sound blunt if you translate word-for-word. When you want warmth, you can add short phrases that soften the line without muddying it:
- No salgas, porfa. Texting tone. “Porfa” is casual.
- No salgas, por favor. Neutral and polite.
- Mejor no salgas. “Better not go out.” This reads as advice.
Make The Boundary Explicit When Safety Or Rules Matter
If you’re talking about a rule or a safety limit, adding the boundary can prevent confusion:
- No salgas de casa. Inside the home is the boundary.
- No salgas del coche. “Don’t get out of the car.”
- No salgas de la fila. “Don’t leave the line.”
That last one shows a hidden perk of salir: it works for leaving many “containers,” not only buildings.
Scripts You Can Copy For Texts And Real Conversations
It’s one thing to know the phrase. It’s another to use it under pressure. These short scripts cover common moments.
Parent Or Caregiver To A Teen
No salgas esta noche. Estoy pendiente del móvil. Si necesitas algo, me escribes.
Friend Trying To Stop A Bad Plan
No salgas. Está lloviendo a cántaros. Te paso a buscar mañana.
Asking Someone To Stay A Little Longer
No te vayas. Falta poco. Tomamos un té y listo.
Notice how these lines add a reason or a next step. That extra sentence makes your Spanish feel human, not like a phrasebook.
Table Of Handy Add-Ons That Change The Meaning
Use this table to adjust the same base command to the moment you’re in. You’ll get more control without learning a new verb each time.
| Add-On | What It Signals | Sample Line |
|---|---|---|
| todavía | “Not yet” timing | No salgas todavía. |
| esta noche | Night-out plan | No salgas esta noche. |
| solo / sola | Company needed | No salgas sola. |
| sin abrigo | Clothing warning | No salgas sin abrigo. |
| de aquí | “From here” boundary | No salgas de aquí. |
| por favor | Polite request | No salga, por favor. |
| en seguida | Short wait | No salgas; vuelvo en seguida. |
Common Mistakes And How To Fix Them
Small slips can make your Spanish sound off, even when the listener still understands you. Here are the ones people hit most with this phrase.
Mixing Up Positive And Negative Command Forms
Positive: sal (tú), salga (usted), salid (vosotros), salgan (ustedes). Negative: no salgas, no salga, no salgáis, no salgan. If you say *no sal, it will sound wrong to many speakers because negative commands use the subjunctive form, as described in the RAE’s grammar notes. RAE: imperative statements gives the rule in plain terms, and Centro Virtual Cervantes: imperative pitfalls shows common errors with clear corrections.
Forgetting The Pronoun Position
With positive commands, pronouns can attach to the end: Dímelo. With negative commands, pronouns stay in front: No me lo digas. With “don’t go out,” you’ll often see this with reflexives or objects:
- No te salgas. “Don’t step out.” (More like “don’t leave your spot.”)
- No salgas con eso. “Don’t go out with that.” (Context decides the meaning.)
Using “Salir” When You Mean “Go Out With Someone”
In Spanish, salir con can mean dating. If you say No salgas con él, it may sound like “Don’t date him,” not “Don’t go out with him tonight.” If your meaning is the night-out plan, add the time or place: No salgas con él esta noche or No salgas con él al bar.
A Simple Checklist Before You Say It
- Decide if you mean “step outside” (salir) or “leave” (irse).
- Pick the person: tú, usted, vosotros, or ustedes.
- Add a boundary if needed: de casa, de aquí, del coche.
- Add timing if it matters: todavía, esta noche.
- If you want warmth, add por favor or a short reason.
References & Sources
- Real Academia Española (RAE).“salir | Diccionario de la lengua española.”Defines core meanings of salir, including leaving or going out from a place.
- Real Academia Española (RAE) & ASALE.“Propiedades sintácticas y semánticas de los enunciados imperativos.”States that negative imperative statements use the subjunctive, not imperative forms, and explains pronoun behavior.
- Real Academia Española (RAE) & ASALE.“no | Diccionario panhispánico de dudas.”Explains standard placement and spelling of no as the negative marker.
- Centro Virtual Cervantes.“Museo de los horrores: Imperativo.”Shows common errors with imperative forms and confirms the use of subjunctive forms in negative commands.