mirando
“mirando” means “looking” in Spanish (describing an ongoing action).
looking, watching
📝 In Action
Estoy mirando la televisión.
A1I am watching television.
¿Qué estás mirando?
A1What are you looking at?
Pasé la tarde mirando las nubes.
A2I spent the afternoon looking at the clouds.
Ella aprendió a cocinar mirando a su abuela.
B1She learned to cook by watching her grandmother.
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: mirando
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly says 'They are watching a movie'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the verb 'mirar', which is from the Latin word 'mīrārī', meaning 'to wonder at' or 'to admire'. This is the same root that gives us English words like 'mirror', 'miracle', and 'admire'.
First recorded: 12th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'mirando' and 'viendo'?
'Mirando' means you are actively directing your eyes at something, like 'looking at' a painting or 'watching' a game. 'Viendo' (from the verb 'ver') is more about the general act of 'seeing' with your eyes. You can be 'viendo' (seeing) everything in a room, but 'mirando' (looking at) just one specific thing.
Can I ever use 'mirando' without 'estar'?
Yes, but in more advanced ways. For example, to say how you did something: 'Conseguí el trabajo mirando los anuncios' (I got the job by looking at the ads). For beginners, it's best to stick with 'estar + mirando' to describe what's happening now.