Inklingo

How to Say "escaping" in Spanish

English → Spanish

escapando

/es-kah-PAHN-doh//eskaˈpando/

verbA2general
Use 'escapando' when referring to the general act of getting away from a place, situation, or confinement, often implying a successful departure.
A small orange cat running quickly through an open garden gate towards a green field.

Examples

El prisionero está escapando por el túnel.

The prisoner is escaping through the tunnel.

Creo que el gas se está escapando de la estufa.

I think gas is leaking from the stove.

El tiempo se nos está escapando de las manos.

Time is slipping through our fingers.

The '-ando' ending

In Spanish, adding '-ando' to an 'ar' verb is just like adding '-ing' in English to show an action is happening right now.

Using it with 'estar'

To say someone 'is escaping,' use the word 'está' right before 'escapando'.

Don't forget the helper verb

Mistake: “Yo escapando.”

Correction: Estoy escapando. In Spanish, you usually need a 'to be' word like 'estoy' or 'estás' to make the sentence complete.

huyendo

/oo-YEN-doh//uˈʝen̪.do/

verb (gerund)A2general
Use 'huyendo' to describe the physical act of running away or fleeing from something, often implying pursuit or a direct flight from danger.
A simple storybook illustration of a stylized figure running urgently and quickly across a landscape, suggesting the act of fleeing.

Examples

El sospechoso está huyendo de la escena del crimen.

The suspect is fleeing the crime scene.

Ella salió huyendo de la habitación después de oír la noticia.

She left running away from the room after hearing the news.

Siempre viven huyendo de sus problemas en lugar de enfrentarlos.

They are always living by running away from their problems instead of facing them.

Forming Continuous Actions

The word 'huyendo' (the gerund) is used with the verb 'estar' to describe an action that is happening right now, just like adding '-ing' in English: 'está huyendo' means 'is fleeing'.

Using the Gerund Adverbially

You can use 'huyendo' right after another verb to show how someone did something: 'Salió huyendo' means 'He left, doing so by fleeing/running away'.

The Y-Glide Rule

Mistake: “Huiendo (missing the 'y')”

Correction: Huyendo (must include the 'y'). The base verb 'huir' has two vowels next to each other ('u' and 'i'). When forming the gerund, Spanish changes the 'i' to a 'y' sound to make it flow better.

Escaping vs. Fleeing

Learners often confuse 'escapando' and 'huyendo'. While 'escapando' can mean simply getting away, 'huyendo' specifically implies a rapid, often fearful, flight from a place or person. Think of 'huyendo' as more active 'fleeing'.

Related Translations

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