caminar
“caminar” means “to walk” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
to walk
Also: to stroll, to hike
📝 In Action
Ella camina al trabajo todos los días.
A1She walks to work every day.
Caminamos por la playa al atardecer.
A2We walked along the beach at sunset.
Si caminas más rápido, llegaremos a tiempo.
B1If you walk faster, we will arrive on time.
to proceed, to progress
Also: to go/to run
📝 In Action
La investigación camina lentamente, pero hay avances.
B2The investigation is progressing slowly, but there is progress.
Este es el camino que debemos caminar juntos.
B2This is the path we must walk together (fig., meaning pursue together).
Tras la cirugía, el paciente ha caminado hacia una recuperación total.
C1After the surgery, the patient has progressed toward a total recovery.
Indicative
Present
Imperfect
Preterite
Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: caminar
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'caminar' in its figurative sense of 'progressing'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
The word comes from the Late Latin word *cammīnus*, which meant 'way' or 'road.' This root likely originated from Gaulish (an ancient Celtic language). It shares a common ancestry with the English word 'path' or 'way' in a very broad sense.
First recorded: 12th century (in Romance languages)
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
¿Caminar vs. Andar: Is there a difference?
Yes, but it’s subtle! 'Caminar' almost always means 'to walk' specifically. 'Andar' is more general, meaning 'to go,' 'to be moving,' or 'to be operating.' While they can often be swapped, 'caminar' is the clearer, more common choice for saying 'I walk to the store.'