Andar is a versatile Spanish verb meaning "to walk" or "to go," typically referring to moving on foot. It also appears in idiomatic expressions about functioning or the state of things.
- Andar = to walk, to go (on foot), to function (in expressions)
- Common usage: walking, moving about, how things operate/is going
Andar means 'to walk' or 'to move about.'
Conjugation: Present Indicative
| Person | Conjugation | English |
|---|---|---|
| yo | ando | I walk |
| tú | andas | you walk (fam.) |
| él/ella/Ud. | anda | he/she/you walk |
| nosotros/as | andamos | we walk |
| vosotros/as | andáis | you all walk (fam.) |
| ellos/as/Uds. | andan | they/you all walk |
'andamos' is the correct form for 'we walk.'
Usage and Examples
- Walking/moving about:
Yo ando por el parque cada mañana.
(I walk around the park every morning.)
- Functioning/working (inanimate):
¿Cómo anda tu computadora?
(How is your computer working?)
- State or condition (things/people):
Él anda preocupado últimamente.
(He’s been worried lately.)
'Él anda cansado estos días.' shows 'andar' used for a changing state.
Related Expressions
| Expression | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Andar + gerundio | To be doing (something) | Ella anda buscando trabajo.<br>(She’s looking for a job.) |
| Andar mal/bien | To do poorly/well (health, etc.) | Mi hermano anda mal.<br>(My brother isn’t doing well.) |
| Andar por + number | To be around (an age, amount) | Mi abuela anda por los ochenta.<br>(My grandmother is around 80.) |
'andar + gerundio' expresses being in the process of doing something.
Exercises
- Conjugate andar in the present tense for all subject pronouns.
- Write three sentences using andar to express walking, something working, and a state of mind.
- Match these andar expressions with their meanings:
- Andar buscando | To be in the process of looking for something
- Andar bien | To be doing well
- Andar por diez | To be around ten (age/amount)
Andar is more than just “to walk”—it also helps describe how people feel, how things work, and what’s going on around us.