Meaning and Usage
The verb andar means to walk or to move in Spanish. It is commonly used to describe someone walking on foot or the general act of moving around. Besides physical movement, andar can also imply functioning or working status when used with machines or devices.
Present Tense Conjugation
Andar is an irregular verb in the present tense, and its stem changes slightly. It is important to memorize its forms for correct usage in daily conversation.
| Spanish Pronoun | Spanish Conjugation | English Conjugation | Spanish Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| yo | ando | I walk | Yo ando por el parque. | I walk through the park. |
| tú | andas | you walk (informal) | Tú andas rápido. | You walk fast. |
| él/ella/usted | anda | he/she/you walk (formal) | Ella anda a la escuela. | She walks to school. |
| nosotros/nosotras | andamos | we walk | Nosotros andamos juntos. | We walk together. |
| vosotros/vosotras | andáis | you all walk (informal Spain) | Vosotros andáis mucho. | You all walk a lot. |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | andan | they/you all walk | Ellos andan en el parque. | They walk in the park. |
Preterite Tense Conjugation
The preterite tense is used to describe completed actions in the past. Andar is irregular in the preterite, with a stem change from and- to anduv-.
| Spanish Pronoun | Spanish Conjugation | English Conjugation | Spanish Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| yo | anduve | I walked | Ayer anduve mucho. | Yesterday I walked a lot. |
| tú | anduviste | you walked (informal) | Tú anduviste en la ciudad. | You walked in the city. |
| él/ella/usted | anduvo | he/she/you walked (formal) | Él anduvo rápido para llegar a tiempo. | He walked fast to arrive on time. |
| nosotros/nosotras | anduvimos | we walked | Nosotros anduvimos todo el día. | We walked all day. |
| vosotros/vosotras | anduvisteis | you all walked (informal Spain) | Vosotros anduvisteis en el parque. | You all walked in the park. |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | anduvieron | they/you all walked | Ellos anduvieron por el bosque. | They walked through the forest. |
Other Uses and Expressions
Andar can express more than literal walking. It often means to be in a certain condition or state, like "andar cansado" (to be tired). It is frequently used in colloquial expressions such as "andar buscando problemas" (to be looking for trouble) and "andar bien/mal" (to be doing well/badly).
For more details on irregular verbs, see the Irregular Verbs page. For general grammar help, visit the Grammar section.
