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A colorful storybook illustration showing a single figure actively dancing with visible movement and joy, depicting the ongoing action.

bailando

bye-LAHN-doh

Verb FormA1regular ar
dancing?as an ongoing action ('-ing')
Also:while dancing?when describing how an action is performed

Quick Reference

infinitivebailar
gerundbailando
past Participlebailado

📝 In Action

Mi hermana está bailando en la fiesta ahora mismo.

A1

My sister is dancing at the party right now.

Vimos a la gente cantando y bailando en la calle.

A2

We saw the people singing and dancing in the street.

Terminó la noche bailando con sus amigos hasta el amanecer.

B1

She ended the night dancing with her friends until dawn.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • danzando (dancing (more formal))

Common Collocations

  • estar bailando – to be dancing (right now)
  • seguir bailando – to keep dancing

💡 Grammar Points

The '-ing' Form

This word, 'bailando,' is the gerund, which is the Spanish equivalent of the English '-ing' form (like 'running' or 'eating').

Continuous Actions

You must use 'estar' (to be) plus 'bailando' to talk about something happening at the moment: 'Estamos bailando' (We are dancing).

Invariable Form

'Bailando' never changes its ending, no matter who is doing the action (I, you, he, they) or whether the subject is masculine or feminine. It always stays 'bailando'.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Using 'Ser' Instead of 'Estar'

Mistake: "Soy bailando."

Correction: Estoy bailando. Remember, 'estar' is used for temporary states or actions happening now, while 'ser' is for permanent identity.

⭐ Usage Tips

Action in Progress

Use 'bailando' whenever you want to emphasize that the dancing started in the past and is still going on.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: bailando

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence correctly uses 'bailando' to describe an ongoing action?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

bailar(to dance) - verb
el baile(the dance/the ball) - noun
bailarín/bailarina(dancer) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

Does 'bailando' ever change its ending?

No. 'Bailando' is what we call an invariable form. It always stays the same, whether the subject is singular (I, he, she) or plural (we, they).

How do I say 'He is dancing' versus 'He likes dancing'?

For 'He is dancing' (action in progress), use the gerund: 'Él está bailando.' For 'He likes dancing' (the activity), use the infinitive: 'A él le gusta bailar.'