andaba
“andaba” means “was walking” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
was walking, used to walk
Also: was going around, used to run/function
📝 In Action
Mi abuelo andaba diez kilómetros cada día.
A2My grandfather used to walk ten kilometers every day.
Ella andaba por la calle cuando la vi.
A2She was walking down the street when I saw her.
Ese reloj nunca andaba bien.
B1That watch never worked well (used to function well).
was feeling, was busy with
Also: was (in a certain condition)
📝 In Action
Yo andaba con gripe la semana pasada.
B1I was sick with the flu last week.
Mi jefe andaba de mal humor todo el día.
B1My boss was in a bad mood all day.
Ella andaba buscando las llaves perdidas.
B2She was busy looking for the lost keys.
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
imperfect
present
preterite
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: andaba
Question 1 of 1
Which of these sentences correctly uses 'andaba' to describe a past habit?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the vulgar Latin verb *ambitare* (to go around, to surround), which itself is related to the Latin *ambulare* (to walk). Over time, the sound changed from 'amb-' to 'and-'.
First recorded: Early Medieval Spanish (likely 10th-11th century)
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'andaba' an irregular verb form?
The infinitive 'andar' is irregular in the simple past (preterite: 'anduve'), but for the imperfect tense ('andaba'), it follows the standard pattern for -ar verbs, which makes it easy to remember!
When should I use 'andaba' instead of 'caminaba'?
'Caminaba' specifically means 'was walking.' 'Andaba' is more general; it can mean 'was walking,' 'was going around,' or even 'was feeling.' Use 'andaba' when the exact mode of transport isn't important, or when you are talking about a general state or emotion.