anda
“anda” means “he/she walks; you walk” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
he/she walks; you walk, walk!
Also: he/she is; you are, it works; it runs
📝 In Action
Mi padre anda por el parque todas las mañanas.
A1My father walks through the park every morning.
El coche no anda, creo que no tiene gasolina.
A2The car doesn't run, I think it's out of gas.
¡Anda más rápido, que vamos a llegar tarde!
A2Walk faster, we're going to be late!
Mi hermano anda un poco triste últimamente.
B1My brother is a little sad lately.
Come on!, Wow!
Also: Geez!, No way!
📝 In Action
¡Anda, qué sorpresa verte aquí!
A2Wow, what a surprise to see you here!
¡Anda, no te creo! ¿De verdad ganaste la lotería?
B1No way, I don't believe you! Did you really win the lottery?
Anda, vamos, que se nos hace tarde.
A2Come on, let's go, we're running late.
¡Anda ya! Eso no puede ser verdad.
B1Come off it! That can't be true.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: anda
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'anda' to express surprise?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin word 'ambulāre', which means 'to walk, to go about'. It's a cousin of the English words 'ambulance' and 'amble'.
First recorded: Around the 10th century.
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'anda' and 'camina'?
They both mean 'he/she walks', but they have slightly different feelings. 'Camina' (from 'caminar') is the most direct, neutral word for walking. 'Anda' (from 'andar') is more general and can mean 'to go about' or 'to move around', not just putting one foot in front of the other. For example, you'd say 'El coche no anda' (The car doesn't run), not 'no camina'.
Is '¡Anda!' only used in Spain?
While it's most famous for being used all the time in Spain, you will hear it in some parts of Latin America too, though often less frequently. In many Latin American countries, expressions like '¡Órale!' (Mexico) or '¡Che!' (Argentina) might be used in similar situations.