robando
“robando” means “stealing” in Spanish (in the act of taking something illegally).
stealing, robbing
Also: taking
📝 In Action
El hombre fue detenido mientras estaba robando en la tienda.
A2The man was arrested while he was stealing in the store.
¿Qué estás robando de la cocina? ¡Es mi galleta!
A1What are you stealing from the kitchen? It's my cookie!
Siento que el trabajo está robando todo mi tiempo libre.
B1I feel like work is stealing all my free time.
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: robando
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'robando' to describe an ongoing action?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
The verb 'robar' comes from a very old Germanic root (likely Frankish *raubōn), meaning 'to seize' or 'to take away by force.' This root also gave rise to the English word 'rob.'
First recorded: 13th century (in Spanish)
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'robando' the same as 'robar'?
No, 'robar' is the base verb (to steal). 'Robando' is a special form, called the gerund, which means 'stealing' and is used to show that the action is currently in progress, usually with the verb 'estar'.
Can I use 'robando' by itself without 'estar'?
Yes, but it often acts like an adverb, describing how an action happens, similar to saying 'He ran, stealing the ball.' (Corrió robando la pelota).