volando
/voh-LAHN-doh/
flying
Depicting the literal meaning of volando: flying.
volando(Verb Form (Gerund))
flying
?in the air
soaring
?high flight
,gliding
?smooth movement
📝 In Action
El avión está volando sobre las montañas.
A1The plane is flying over the mountains.
Estuvimos volando por diez horas hasta llegar a Madrid.
A2We were flying for ten hours until we arrived in Madrid.
💡 Grammar Points
The Gerund Form
'Volando' is the '-ando' form, which is Spanish's equivalent to the English '-ing' form. It describes an action that is currently happening.
Progressive Tenses
You combine 'volando' with a form of 'estar' (to be) to make progressive tenses, like 'está volando' (is flying) or 'estaba volando' (was flying).
⭐ Usage Tips
Remember the Stem Change
When conjugating the base verb 'volar' in the present tense, the 'o' changes to 'ue' (vuelo, vuelas). However, the gerund 'volando' and the 'nosotros' form do NOT change.
Illustrating volando as an adverb meaning quickly or moving fast.
📝 In Action
¡Vente volando! Tenemos que salir ya.
B1Come quickly! We have to leave now.
Hice el informe volando porque tenía mucha prisa.
B2I did the report quickly because I was in a big rush.
El repartidor llegó volando con mi pizza.
B1The delivery person arrived in a flash with my pizza.
⭐ Usage Tips
Used with Movement
This adverbial use is almost always paired with verbs of movement, like 'ir' (to go) or 'venir' (to come), to emphasize the speed of the travel.
Visualizing the phrase volando in the context of merchandise selling fast.
volando(Adverbial Phrase)
selling fast
?merchandise or tickets
going quickly
?time or resources
,selling like hotcakes
?very popular sales
📝 In Action
Las entradas para el concierto de Taylor Swift están volando.
B2The tickets for the Taylor Swift concert are selling fast.
El tiempo en vacaciones siempre pasa volando.
B2Time on vacation always flies by quickly.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: volando
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'volando' in its figurative, adverbial sense (meaning 'quickly')?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'volando' always used informally when it means 'quickly'?
Yes, while everyone understands it, using 'volando' to mean 'quickly' is a very common and dynamic way to speak, making it better suited for informal or casual conversations than highly formal settings.
How does 'volando' compare to 'rápido'?
Both mean 'fast/quickly.' 'Rápido' is standard. 'Volando' is more expressive and implies extreme speed or urgency, suggesting the movement is as fast as flying.