A single bright yellow rubber duck floating effortlessly on the surface of calm, clear blue water.

flotando

floh-TAHN-doh

Gerund (Verb Form)A2regular ar

floating?as in 'is floating'

Also:drifting?moving slowly without direction,hovering?staying in the air

Quick Reference

past Participleflotado

gerundflotando

infinitiveflotar

📝 In Action

El tronco estuvo flotando por el río durante días.

The log was floating down the river for days.

Están flotando en el aire como si no tuvieran peso.

They are floating in the air as if they had no weight.

Vi a la niña flotando boca arriba en la piscina.

I saw the girl floating face up in the pool.

Word Connections

Synonyms

navegando (sailing/navigating (on water))
suspendido (suspended (in air))

Antonyms

hundiendo (sinking)
sumergiendo (submerging)

Common Collocations

estar flotando – to be floating (right now)
seguir flotando – to keep floating

Idioms & Expressions

flotar en el ambiente – for something (like a feeling or idea) to be in the air

💡 Grammar Points

Continuous Actions

The '-ando' ending (the gerund) is the Spanish equivalent of the English '-ing' form. You use it with the verb 'estar' to talk about what is happening right now: 'Estoy flotando' (I am floating).

Adverbial Use

You can use 'flotando' right after a verb of motion or perception to describe how the action is being done: 'Vino flotando' (It came floating).

❌ Common Pitfalls

Mixing up the 'ing' forms

Mistake: "Using 'estar flotado' instead of 'estar flotando'."

Correction: The '-ado' form ('flotado') is for completed actions (like 'has floated'). Use the '-ando' form ('flotando') for actions in progress.

⭐ Usage Tips

Focus on the Process

'Flotando' emphasizes the action being continuous and gentle. Use it when describing things like clouds, leaves on water, or a feeling of weightlessness.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: flotando

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence correctly uses 'flotando' to describe something happening right now?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

flotar(to float) - verb

flotador(float/life preserver) - noun

flotación(floating/buoyancy) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

When do I use 'flotando' versus 'flotado'?

'Flotando' (the -ing form) is used for continuous actions, usually with 'estar' (e.g., 'está flotando' - it is floating). 'Flotado' (the -ed form) is used for completed actions, usually with 'haber' (e.g., 'ha flotado' - it has floated).