El chico va a bañarse.

The boy is going to take a bath.

Breakdown of El chico va a bañarse.

• ir: to go
• a: to
• el chico: the boy
• bañarse: to take a bath

Questions & Answers about El chico va a bañarse.

Why does the sentence start with el chico instead of just chico?

In Spanish, it is very common to use the definite article with nouns when talking about a specific person or thing.

So el chico means the boy.

Using just chico by itself would usually not work here as a normal complete subject. Spanish generally prefers:

• El chico... = The boy...
• Un chico... = A boy...

So El chico va a bañarse is a natural way to say that a specific boy is going to bathe.

What does va a + infinitive mean?

Ir a + infinitive is a very common Spanish structure used to talk about the near future, similar to be going to + verb in English.

Here:

• va = he/she goes / is going
• a = part of the future structure
• bañarse = to bathe oneself

So:

• va a bañarse = is going to bathe

This is one of the first future patterns learners usually meet in Spanish.

Examples:

• Voy a comer = I’m going to eat
• Vamos a salir = We’re going to go out
• El chico va a bañarse = The boy is going to bathe