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vagar

bah-GAHR/baˈɣaɾ/

“vagar” means “to wander” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

to wander

Also: to roam, to stroll
VerbB1regular with spelling adjustment ar
General
A traveler walking along a winding path through a vast green meadow under a blue sky.
gerundvagando
past Participlevagado
infinitivevagar

📝 In Action

Me gusta vagar por el parque los domingos por la mañana.

A2

I like to wander through the park on Sunday mornings.

Después de perderse, el perro vagó por las calles durante días.

B1

After getting lost, the dog wandered through the streets for days.

Muchos poetas prefieren vagar sin rumbo para encontrar inspiración.

B2

Many poets prefer to roam aimlessly to find inspiration.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

  • quedarse (to stay)
  • establecerse (to settle down)

Common Collocations

  • vagar sin rumbo – to wander aimlessly
  • vagar por las calles – to roam the streets

Idioms & Expressions

  • dejar vagar la imaginación – to let one's imagination run wild

to drift

Also: to be vague
VerbC1regular with spelling adjustment arformal
A person sitting on a park bench looking up at fluffy clouds that are shaped like distant mountains.
gerundvagando
past Participlevagado
infinitivevagar

📝 In Action

Su mente empezó a vagar durante la larga conferencia.

B2

His mind began to drift during the long lecture.

Una sonrisa vaga vagaba por sus labios.

C1

A faint smile drifted across her lips.

No permitas que tu atención vague cuando manejas.

C1

Don't let your attention drift when you are driving.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • distraerse (to get distracted)
  • evadirse (to escape (mentally))

Antonyms

  • concentrarse (to concentrate)
  • enfocarse (to focus)

Common Collocations

  • vagar el pensamiento – thoughts drifting
  • vagar la mirada – one's gaze wandering

🔄 Conjugations

subjunctive

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedesvagaran
yovagara
túvagaras
vosotrosvagarais
nosotrosvagáramos
él/ella/ustedvagara

present

ellos/ellas/ustedesvaguen
yovague
túvagues
vosotrosvaguéis
nosotrosvaguemos
él/ella/ustedvague

indicative

preterite

ellos/ellas/ustedesvagaron
yovagué
túvagaste
vosotrosvagasteis
nosotrosvagamos
él/ella/ustedvagó

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedesvagaban
yovagaba
túvagabas
vosotrosvagabais
nosotrosvagábamos
él/ella/ustedvagaba

present

ellos/ellas/ustedesvagan
yovago
túvagas
vosotrosvagáis
nosotrosvagamos
él/ella/ustedvaga
View All Tenses & Moods →

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "vagar" in Spanish:

to drift→to roam→to stroll→to wander→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: vagar

Question 1 of 3

Which sentence is correct for 'I wandered' in the past?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
vago(lazy person / vague) — Noun / Adjective
vagabundo(vagabond/homeless) — Noun
vagancia(laziness) — Noun
vaguear(to loaf around) — Verb
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

From the Latin verb 'vagari', which means 'to stroll' or 'to roam about'. It is related to the word 'vagus', meaning 'wandering'.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: vagueEnglish: vagabondFrench: vaguer

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'vagar' the same as 'vaguear'?

Not exactly. 'Vagar' usually means to wander or roam (like a traveler or a dog). 'Vaguear' specifically means to be lazy or to loaf around doing nothing.

How do I pronounce the 'gu' in 'vagué'?

The 'u' is silent! It's only there to tell you to pronounce the 'g' like the 'g' in 'guitar' instead of a raspy 'h' sound.

Can I use 'vagar' for a car?

It's uncommon. It usually refers to people, animals, or abstract things like thoughts and winds.