andan
/AHN-dahn/
they walk
“Andan” can mean physical movement, such as when they walk together.
andan(verb)
they walk
?physical movement
,you all walk (formal)
?physical movement, plural Ustedes
they go
?moving from one place to another
,they roam
?wandering
📝 In Action
Los niños andan muy rápido para llegar al parque.
A1The children walk very fast to get to the park.
Ustedes andan sin paraguas bajo la lluvia.
A2You all are walking without umbrellas in the rain.
¿Por dónde andan tus amigos? No los veo.
A2Where are your friends going? I don't see them.
💡 Grammar Points
Present Tense Form
This form ('andan') is used when the actors are 'ellos' (they, masculine/mixed), 'ellas' (they, feminine), or 'ustedes' (you all, formal).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'Estar' for Location
Mistake: "Misusing 'andar' to mean 'to be located' permanently. (e.g., *La casa andan allí*)"
Correction: Use 'estar' or 'ser' for location. 'Andar' implies movement or temporary location. (e.g., *¿Dónde andan?* - Where are they roaming/going?)
⭐ Usage Tips
A Substitute for 'Ir'
In casual speech, 'andar' can sometimes replace 'ir' (to go) when describing a general route or movement without a specific destination: 'Ellos andan por el centro' (They are going around the center).
When referring to machines or systems, “andan” means they work or function.
andan(verb)
they work
?machinery/system operation
,they run
?engines/programs
they function
?general operation
📝 In Action
Los motores andan mejor después del mantenimiento.
B1The engines work better after maintenance.
Dicen que sus negocios andan muy bien este trimestre.
B2They say their businesses are running very well this quarter.
Las computadoras andan lentas hoy; hay un problema en la red.
B1The computers are running slow today; there's a network problem.
💡 Grammar Points
Talking About Systems
When talking about how things (like cars, organizations, or clocks) are performing, use 'andar' instead of 'caminar' (which is only for people/animals).
⭐ Usage Tips
Use with Adverbs
This meaning often pairs with adverbs like bien (well), mal (poorly), or lento (slowly) to describe performance.
“Andan” can describe a state of being, meaning they are feeling a certain way, like being happy or healthy.
andan(verb)
they are feeling
?state of being or health
,they are involved with
?activity or situation (used with 'con')
they are wearing
?clothing (regional)
📝 In Action
Ellos andan de vacaciones en la playa, por eso no contestan.
B2They are on vacation at the beach, that's why they don't answer. (They are busy with vacationing)
¿Cómo andan de salud? Espero que mejor.
C1How are they doing health-wise? I hope better.
Dicen que andan con problemas financieros muy serios.
C1They say they are dealing with very serious financial problems.
💡 Grammar Points
State of Being
In many Spanish-speaking areas, 'andar' is a casual replacement for 'estar' when asking about someone's general state or health: '¿Cómo andan?' is the same as '¿Cómo están?'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing 'Andar' and 'Ser'
Mistake: "Using 'andar' for a permanent characteristic. (e.g., *Ellos andan altos*)"
Correction: Use 'ser' for permanent traits. 'Andar' is only for temporary states or activities. (e.g., *Ellos son altos* - They are tall.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Prepositions are Key
This figurative meaning almost always requires a preposition like 'con' (dealing with) or 'de' (doing/acting as) immediately following 'andan'.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
imperfect
present
preterite
subjunctive
imperfect
present
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: andan
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'andan' to describe how a machine is performing?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'andan' a regular verb form?
The form 'andan' (present tense) is perfectly regular based on the infinitive 'andar'. However, the verb 'andar' itself is considered irregular because its past tense forms (like 'anduve' in the preterite) have unexpected spelling changes.
Can 'andan' always be replaced by 'caminan'?
No. While 'andan' can mean 'they walk' (like 'caminan'), 'andar' has broader meanings, such as 'to function' (Los carros andan bien) or 'to be in a state' (Andan de fiesta). 'Caminar' only means physical walking.