volando
“volando” means “flying” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
📝 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.
quickly, in a flash
Also: fast, in a hurry
📝 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.
📝 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.
Indicative
Present
Imperfect
Preterite
Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
Translate to Spanish
Words that translate to "volando" in Spanish:
fast→flying→gliding→going quickly→quickly→selling fast→soaring→✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: volando
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'volando' in its figurative, adverbial sense (meaning 'quickly')?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
'Volando' comes directly from the verb 'volar,' which traces back to the Latin word *volare*, meaning 'to move through the air.' The '-ando' ending is the standard way to form the continuous action (gerund) for verbs that end in -ar.
First recorded: Classical Latin to Old Spanish (as 'bolar')
Cognates (Related words)
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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.