---
title: "Ligar, Salir, Quedar, Andar: The Mexican Dating Verbs That Don't Translate"
description: "Learn how ligar, salir, quedar, andar, verse, and cortar work in Mexican dating Spanish, from flirting to dating to becoming official."
type: "article"
category: "dating"
url: "https://consalsa.app/blog/mexican-dating-verbs"
canonical: "https://consalsa.app/blog/mexican-dating-verbs"
published: "2026-07-08"
updated: "2026-07-08"
author: "Andrey the Nomad"
site: "ConSalsa.App"
license: "https://consalsa.app/about"
---

# Ligar, Salir, Quedar, Andar: The Mexican Dating Verbs That Don't Translate
URL: https://consalsa.app/blog/mexican-dating-verbs
Date: 2026-07-08
Updated: 2026-07-08
Category: dating
Keywords: mexican spanish dating verbs, ligar salir quedar andar meaning, mexican dating spanish, salir con alguien meaning mexico, andar con alguien meaning
Summary: Learn how ligar, salir, quedar, andar, verse, and cortar work in Mexican dating Spanish, from flirting to dating to becoming official.

Quick answer:
- Ligar is flirting or making romantic or sexual contact; it is not the same as dating.
- Quedar is arranging to meet; salir can mean going out or dating depending on context.
- Andar con alguien often points closer to being together or seeing someone as a couple.
- Ask for clarity with qué somos, qué plan traes, or estamos saliendo? only when the moment has earned it.

What you'll learn:
- How Mexican dating verbs map to stages: flirting, meeting, seeing, dating, and ending.
- Why literal translations make app chats and first dates more confusing.
- How to ask where things stand without sounding like a courtroom.
- Which verbs are safe for casual talk and which feel emotionally bigger.

Don't sound gringo:
Do not translate dating as one single Spanish verb. In Mexico, the verb changes with the stage, and using the big verb too early can make the room sweat.

Body:

Mexican dating Spanish does not have one clean verb for "dating." That is inconvenient at first, but useful once you get the ladder: **<mark lang="es-MX">ligar</mark>, <mark lang="es-MX">quedar</mark>, <mark lang="es-MX">salir</mark>, <mark lang="es-MX">andar</mark>, <mark lang="es-MX">cortar</mark>**.

The verb tells people how serious the thing feels. That matters when you are texting from the US, visiting Mexico for a month, or trying to understand whether Friday coffee in Roma is a date, a chemistry check, or just coffee.

## The dating verb ladder

| Verb | Rough stage | English-ish |
|---|---|---|
| Ligar | Attraction / flirting | To flirt, hit on |
| Tirar la onda | Showing interest | To make a move |
| Quedar | Agreeing to meet | To meet up |
| Salir | Going out / dating | To go out, date |
| Andar con alguien | Seeing / together | To be with someone |
| Cortar | Ending | To break up |

RAE marks <mark lang="es-MX">ligar</mark> as colloquial for starting temporary romantic or sexual relations.[^rae-ligar] That does not make it dirty by default, but it does mean <mark lang="es-MX">ligar</mark> lives closer to flirting and attraction than to stable partnership.

<mark lang="es-MX">Quedar</mark>, meanwhile, can mean agreeing on something or arranging a meeting.[^rae-quedar] That is why <mark lang="es-MX">quedamos a las ocho</mark> is logistics first. Romance is optional.

<figure>
  <img src="/images/blog/pexels-susan-flores-red-cafe-cdmx.jpg" alt="A cozy red cafe in Mexico City." loading="lazy" />
  <figcaption>A coffee can be a date, a hang, or a vibe check. The verb tells you which one people think it is. Photo by <a href="https://www.pexels.com/photo/cafe-with-red-accents-in-mexico-city-37814058/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Susan Flores on Pexels</a>.</figcaption>
</figure>

## Ligar is not dating

<mark lang="es-MX">Ligar</mark> is the early spark. You can <mark lang="es-MX">ligar</mark> at a bar, on an app, at a party, or through a friend. It can mean flirting successfully, trying your luck, or just putting romantic energy into the room.

<ul class="examples">
  <li class="example">
    <div class="es" lang="es-MX">Creo que te está tirando la onda.</div>
    <div class="en" lang="en">I think he is flirting with you.</div>
  </li>
  <li class="example">
    <div class="es" lang="es-MX">No sé si quiere ligar o solo es buena onda.</div>
    <div class="en" lang="en">I do not know if he wants to flirt or is just being nice.</div>
  </li>
</ul>

If you say <mark lang="es-MX">estamos ligando</mark>, it sounds like there is flirt energy. If you say <mark lang="es-MX">estamos saliendo</mark>, it may sound like something more ongoing. That difference matters when friends start asking questions and you suddenly realize your verb did more gossip work than you meant.

## Quedar and salir are the messy middle

<mark lang="es-MX">Quedar</mark> is beautifully noncommittal. It can be two friends meeting at a cafe, a first date, a group plan, or a "let's see if we have chemistry" situation.

<ul class="examples">
  <li class="example">
    <div class="es" lang="es-MX">¿Quedamos el jueves?</div>
    <div class="en" lang="en">Should we meet Thursday?</div>
  </li>
  <li class="example">
    <div class="es" lang="es-MX">Quedamos por un café y ya vemos.</div>
    <div class="en" lang="en">Let us meet for coffee and see.</div>
  </li>
</ul>

<mark lang="es-MX">Salir</mark> is trickier. RAE gives it the plain base sense of going out or leaving.[^rae-salir] But <mark lang="es-MX">salir con alguien</mark> can mean going out with someone socially or dating them, depending on tone, frequency, and how your friends say the person's name.

<div id="midpost-newsletter-slot"></div>

## Andar is heavier

<mark lang="es-MX">Andar</mark> has a huge range in Spanish, from moving around to functioning to being in a state.[^rae-andar] But <mark lang="es-MX">andar con alguien</mark> in dating talk often feels closer to "be seeing someone" or "be together."

So do not throw it around too early unless you mean it.

| English thought | Better Mexican Spanish |
|---|---|
| We are just meeting up | Estamos quedando / nos estamos viendo |
| We are going out | Estamos saliendo |
| We are kind of together | Ando con él / estamos saliendo más en serio |
| We broke up | Cortamos |

<mark lang="es-MX">Cortar</mark> has the everyday meaning of cutting, but in relationship Spanish it also works for breaking up or cutting things off.[^rae-cortar] Simple, a little brutal, very efficient.

<figure>
  <img src="/images/blog/pexels-jonathan-valdes-couple-bar-cdmx.jpg" alt="A couple at a Mexico City bar." loading="lazy" />
  <figcaption>The same night can be casual, romantic, or undefined. Your verbs should not rush it. Photo by <a href="https://www.pexels.com/photo/a-couple-at-a-bar-23710075/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Jonathan Valdes on Pexels</a>.</figcaption>
</figure>

## How to ask where things stand

US learners often jump straight to "what are we?" energy. Sometimes that is needed. Sometimes it sounds like you brought a clipboard to the kiss.

Try softer versions first:

<ul class="examples">
  <li class="example">
    <div class="es" lang="es-MX">Oye, ¿qué plan traes conmigo?</div>
    <div class="en" lang="en">Hey, what kind of thing are you thinking with me?</div>
  </li>
  <li class="example">
    <div class="es" lang="es-MX">¿Estamos saliendo o lo ves más casual?</div>
    <div class="en" lang="en">Are we dating, or do you see it as more casual?</div>
  </li>
  <li class="example">
    <div class="es" lang="es-MX">Me gustas, pero quiero entender bien la onda.</div>
    <div class="en" lang="en">I like you, but I want to understand the vibe clearly.</div>
  </li>
</ul>

That last phrase is very Mexican in spirit: warm feeling plus practical clarity. It does not demand a relationship. It asks for the map. If the answer is vague, you can slow down instead of pretending the vagueness is romance.

<figure>
  <img src="/images/blog/pexels-alialcantara-bar-whisper-cdmx.jpg" alt="Two people whispering at a bar table." loading="lazy" />
  <figcaption>Dating clarity often starts quietly, not dramatically. Photo by <a href="https://www.pexels.com/photo/woman-talking-near-the-person-s-ear-13049464/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Ali Alcántara on Pexels</a>.</figcaption>
</figure>

## Learn the movement

Do not memorize one translation for "dating." Memorize the movement. <mark lang="es-MX">Ligar</mark> is spark. <mark lang="es-MX">Quedar</mark> is plan. <mark lang="es-MX">Salir</mark> is ongoing possibility. <mark lang="es-MX">Andar</mark> is closer to together. <mark lang="es-MX">Cortar</mark> is the end.

And if you are on apps, keep Grindr's consent and privacy guidance in the back of your head.[^grindr-guidelines] A good verb helps. A pattern people can trust helps more.

[^rae-ligar]: [Diccionario de la lengua española, ligar](https://dle.rae.es/ligar) - Real Academia Española.
[^rae-quedar]: [Diccionario de la lengua española, quedar](https://dle.rae.es/quedar) - Real Academia Española.
[^rae-salir]: [Diccionario de la lengua española, salir](https://dle.rae.es/salir) - Real Academia Española.
[^rae-andar]: [Diccionario de la lengua española, andar](https://dle.rae.es/andar) - Real Academia Española.
[^rae-cortar]: [Diccionario de la lengua española, cortar](https://dle.rae.es/cortar) - Real Academia Española.
[^grindr-guidelines]: [Grindr Community Guidelines](https://www.grindr.com/community-guidelines) - Grindr.

FAQ:
Q: What does ligar mean in Mexican Spanish?
A: Ligar means to flirt, hit on someone, or make romantic or sexual contact. It is earlier and looser than being in a relationship.

Q: What does quedar mean for dating?
A: Quedar means to agree to meet or set up a plan. It does not automatically mean a romantic date.

Q: Does salir mean dating?
A: Sometimes. Salir can mean going out socially or dating, so context decides.

Q: What does andar con alguien mean?
A: Andar con alguien can mean to be seeing someone or be together, often more relationship-coded than just salir.

Q: How do I ask if we are dating?
A: Use something soft like entonces, ¿estamos saliendo? or qué plan traes conmigo? depending on the relationship.

Q: What verb means to break up?
A: Cortar is the common verb for breaking up or cutting things off with someone.

Q: Why do these verbs matter?
A: Because the wrong verb can make a casual plan sound like a relationship or make a real relationship sound casual.

Sources:
- Diccionario de la lengua española, ligar: https://dle.rae.es/ligar
- Diccionario de la lengua española, quedar: https://dle.rae.es/quedar
- Diccionario de la lengua española, salir: https://dle.rae.es/salir
- Diccionario de la lengua española, andar: https://dle.rae.es/andar
- Diccionario de la lengua española, cortar: https://dle.rae.es/cortar
- Grindr Community Guidelines: https://www.grindr.com/community-guidelines

Related words: ligar, cortar, tirar-la-onda, me-cae-bien