¿Andar o caminar?

[laepelba]

I know that both words mean "to walk", and I know that in both English and Spanish there are lots of situations where two words can mean the same thing. But what is the sense in which one would say "andar" vs. "caminar".

For example, I like to take long walks. Would I say that "voy a andar" or "voy a caminar"?

Or, if someone walks to work. Would you say "ando a trabajo" or "camino a trabajo"?

[chileno]

Originally Posted by laepelba

I know that both words mean "to walk", and I know that in both English and Spanish there are lots of situations where two words can mean the same thing. But what is the sense in which one would say "andar" vs. "caminar".

For example, I like to take long walks. Would I say that "voy a andar" or "voy a caminar"?

Or, if someone walks to work. Would you say "ando a trabajo" or "camino a trabajo"?

Hola again!

If you walk to work: camino al trabajo (I walk to the job)

If you are working: ando trabajando

Ando por el camino de la vida : I tread on the road of life.



Now, to bleed!

[laepelba]

Desangrar? Como?

What about taking a walk (for recreation)?

[cmon]

to take a walk/stroll
Dar un paseo

[lee ying]

I can give more examples about it!!
Ando buscando trabajo,
me gusta andar con esa muchacha.
Andaba buscando mi cartera pero ya lo encontré.
Andaba caminando por el parque y miré a mi novia.
ando caminando muy rapido por que es muy tarde.
ando mucho dinero.
*_*

[Jessica]

ir a pie is to go on foot, so I guess that's different. I learned that ir a paseo is to go on a walk. but that's different from the verb, walk.


so I guess caminar is the right way for "to walk"??

[laepelba]

Originally Posted by lee ying

I can give more examples about it!!
Ando buscando trabajo,
me gusta andar con esa muchacha.
Andaba buscando mi cartera pero ya lo encontré.
Andaba caminando por el parque y miré a mi novia.
ando caminando muy rapido por que es muy tarde.
ando mucho dinero.
*_*

Hey, Lee Ying (or someone else, Chileno?) - would you mind giving me translations of those phrases, just so I get the gist of them. Thanks!

[tacuba]

Laepelba, this might help you decipher the sentences.

From Gerald Erichsen at About.com

When followed by a gerund (a verb form ending in -ando or -endo), andar can mean something similar "to go about." It can even be less specific in terms of action than that, serving as kind of a substitute for estar, forming a kind of a continuous tense. Translation will depend largely on the context.

• Andaba hablando consigo mismo. (He went around talking to himself.)
• Ahora nadie anda comprando esas blusas. (Now nobody is buying those blouses.)
• Había una gran piara de cerdos, que andaban comiendo en la falda del monte. (There was a large herd of pigs that were going about eating on the mountainside.)
• Los astrónomos, que siempre andan estudiando el cielo, han llegado a pensar que muchas de las estrellas pueden tener planetas. (Astronomers, who are always studying the sky, have come to believe that many of the stars could have planets.)

In some cases, andar can mean simply "to be."

• ¿Andas por aquí? (Are you from around here?)
• Ahora se estima que la inversión andará por los $30 millones. (Now it is estimated that the investment must be about $30 million.)
• Silvia hoy anda por los 43 años. (Sylvia today is 43 years old.)
• Muchas veces anda mal de dinero. (He's often short on money.)
• Mi madre anda muy preocupada. (My mother is very worried.)

[chileno]

Originally Posted by laepelba

Hey, Lee Ying (or someone else, Chileno?) - would you mind giving me translations of those phrases, just so I get the gist of them. Thanks!

That is what I referred as "to bleed".

Come on, think a little and you tell me what you think it is. I or someone else will correct you.


Ha! The gall...

[Tomisimo]

Originally Posted by laepelba

I know that both words mean "to walk", and I know that in both English and Spanish there are lots of situations where two words can mean the same thing. But what is the sense in which one would say "andar" vs. "caminar".

For example, I like to take long walks. Would I say that "voy a andar" or "voy a caminar"?

Or, if someone walks to work. Would you say "ando a trabajo" or "camino a trabajo"?

"Caminar" is more literal and "andar" can be more figurative in some cases. In other words, "caminar" almost always refers to the physical act of walking, while andar can refer to the physical act, as well as many other things.

I like to take long walks
Me gusta caminar
Me gusta dar paseos muy largos
Me gusta ir a caminar

I walk to work
Voy caminando al trabajo
Camino al trabajo

More figurative uses of andar:

Ando en Arlington = I'm in Arlington
Ando en el supermercado = I'm at the store
Ando comprando un vestido = I'm out buying a dress
Ayer hacía mucho calor-- andaba en los 90s. = It was really hot yesterday-- about 90.

[CrOtALiTo]

Originally Posted by lee ying

I can give more examples about it!!
Ando buscando trabajo,
me gusta andar con esa muchacha.
Andaba buscando mi cartera pero ya lo encontré.
Andaba caminando por el parque y miré a mi novia.
ando caminando muy rapido por que es muy tarde.
ando mucho dinero.
*_*

I'm looking a job.
I like to be with that girl.

I was looking my wallet but I found it.

I was walking for the park and I saw to my girlfriend.

I'm walking very fast because is too late.

I carry much money in my wallet.

I tried to translate each sentence wrote by lee ying. But I don't know if I'm well.

[Elaina]

Originally Posted by CrOtALiTo

I'm looking for a job.
I'd (I would) like to be with that girl.

I was looking for my wallet but and I found it.

I was walking towards the park when I saw my girlfriend.

I'm walking very fast because it is (its)very late.

I carry much a lot of money in my wallet.

I tried to translate each sentence wrote written by lee ying. But I don't know if I'm well correct.

some corrections......

[chileno]

Originally Posted by Elaina

some corrections......

I'd (I would) like to be with that girl.

Why can't just be "I like to be with that girl"

Are you assuming (you know what that means) that the man does not have a girl?


Oh, BTW, me too! ;->

Shió

[laepelba]

Originally Posted by chileno

That is what I referred as "to bleed".

Come on, think a little and you tell me what you think it is. I or someone else will correct you.

Ha! The gall...

Oh - meaning that I'm trying to bleed you all by asking for someone else to do the translating? Really, I didn't get the andar-with-another-verb thing. Actually, after Tacuba and David's explanations, I could have translated them myself before Crotalito did..... If that's NOT what you meant by "bleed", then tell me!

Originally Posted by tacuba

Laepelba, this might help you decipher the sentences.

From Gerald Erichsen at About.com

When followed by a gerund (a verb form ending in -ando or -endo), andar can mean something similar "to go about." It can even be less specific in terms of action than that, serving as kind of a substitute for estar, forming a kind of a continuous tense. Translation will depend largely on the context.In some cases, andar can mean simply "to be."

AHHHHHHHHHhhhh!!!!!!!! THANK YOU!! That is very helpful!!

Originally Posted by Tomisimo

"Caminar" is more literal and "andar" can be more figurative in some cases. In other words, "caminar" almost always refers to the physical act of walking, while andar can refer to the physical act, as well as many other things.

I like to take long walks
Me gusta caminar
Me gusta dar paseos muy largos
Me gusta ir a caminar

I walk to work
Voy caminando al trabajo
Camino al trabajo

More figurative uses of andar:

Ando en Arlington = I'm in Arlington
Ando en el supermercado = I'm at the store
Ando comprando un vestido = I'm out buying a dress
Ayer hacía mucho calor-- andaba en los 90s. = It was really hot yesterday-- about 90.

Also very helpful, David!!

Thanks all!! Ahora, ando hablando conmigo mismo.

[Rusty]

Originally Posted by laepelba

Ahora, ando hablando conmigo misma.

Una correccioncita.

[laepelba]

Originally Posted by Rusty

Una correccioncita.

AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh no!! Didn't I JUST do that in another post!!!!!!!!!! DOH!!!!!!!!!!!! (Rusty - you are SO patient!!)

[chileno]

Originally Posted by laepelba

Oh - meaning that I'm trying to bleed you all by asking for someone else to do the translating? Really, I didn't get the andar-with-another-verb thing. Actually, after Tacuba and David's explanations, I could have translated them myself before Crotalito did..... If that's NOT what you meant by "bleed", then tell me!

What I mean by "bleeding" is that you have to hurt in order to gain... it is easy when somebody answers.

In no way you are bleeding us. But no pain no gain. See?

[laepelba]

Originally Posted by chileno

What I mean by "bleeding" is that you have to hurt in order to gain... it is easy when somebody answers.

In no way you are bleeding us. But no pain no gain. See?

Ahhh... no pain no gain. Gotcha! No BLOOD no gain. MY blood.

You're right - it DOES stretch me to pursue these things. But I am definitely learning! Thanks, Hernán!!

[chileno]

Originally Posted by laepelba

Ahhh... no pain no gain. Gotcha! No BLOOD no gain. MY blood.

You're right - it DOES stretch me to pursue these things. But I am definitely learning! Thanks, Hernán!!

You are more than welcome. I already spilled (spilt) my blood long time ago. :-)

How come a verb that is supposed to be irregular got to be regular?

hhmmm?

[laepelba]

Originally Posted by chileno

You are more than welcome. I already spilled (spilt) my blood long time ago. :-)

How come a verb that is supposed to be irregular got to be regular?

hhmmm?

Well, I'm sure that if you talk to a true Brit, they would tell you that "spilt" is "proper". They believe that we Yanks have messed up the English language.