Andar

Andar
 

This is a discussion thread for the Daily Spanish Word for August 22, 2009

andar (verb) — to walk, travel, go, be, use, carry, move. Look up andar in the dictionary

No puedo verte ahora porque ando fuera de la ciudad.
I can't see you now because I'm out of town.

I wouldn't say "ando fuera de la ciudad", but "estoy fuera de la ciudad". Maybe it's common in Latin America. :thinking:

Cuidado al conjugarlo ;)

Thanks, Irma. I was going to ask about that ... I was wondering why not "estoy".

It would be helpful if someone gave several examples of varied uses of "andar", as it seems to be a verb that has many different uses. Sort of like "echar". :)

Also, awhile back, I started a thread about "andar" vs. "caminar". The link to it is here: http://forums.tomisimo.org/showthread.php?t=3331

I think "to wander" is missing in the translation. ;)


@Lou Ann: it's not "estoy" because "ando" gives a more vague idea. "Estoy" would mean I'm in a fixed place. "Ando" means I'm wandering around. :D

Me gusta andar en aviones.
I like to wander around in planes.

Anduve perdido varias horas.
I was lost (moving, trying to find the way back) for several hours.

¿Dónde andas?
Where are you? (I've been looking for you in several places and couldn't find you.)

Supe que el jefe anda en los jardines. Podemos ir a tomar café mientras.
I knew the boss is out in the gardens. We can go have a coffee in the meantime.

I would say it...

Another example:
¡Anda ya! No te enrolles.

Maybe it isn't correct spanish or usage of the word but the phrase: "ando fuera de la ciudad" is used by many people. Maybe it is a regional phrase.

Who knows!

:D

We say the same thing in Chile. :)

Leaving apart the literal translation and if it is correct or not, in that setence here we use "ando" and "estoy" as synonyms.
Andaba en Palermo pero ahora ando en Caballito.
Estaba en Palermo pero ahora estoy en Caballito.
Estaba en Palermo, ahora ando en Caballito.

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If the beach is full we'll just say:
"Esta lleno -de gente". (90%)
"Esta abarrotado."
"Es un mundo de gente."