Inklingo

How to Say "shaking" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “shaking” is “moviendo” — use 'moviendo' when referring to the active, continuous movement of a body part, especially an appendage like a tail or hand.

English → Spanish

moviendo

moh-vee-EN-dohmoˈβjen.do

Verb Form (Gerund)A1General
Use 'moviendo' when referring to the active, continuous movement of a body part, especially an appendage like a tail or hand.
A bright red spherical ball is depicted mid-roll, moving quickly across a simple green grassy field, illustrating physical motion.

Examples

El perro está moviendo la cola muy rápido.

The dog is moving its tail very fast.

Estamos moviendo las cajas pesadas al camión.

We are moving the heavy boxes to the truck.

El chef está moviendo la sopa para que no se pegue.

The chef is stirring the soup so it doesn't stick.

Forming the Continuous Tense

'Moviendo' is the '-ing' form (the gerund). It combines with 'estar' to show an action happening right now: 'Estoy moviendo' (I am moving).

Using the Gerund Alone

Mistake: “Yo moviendo los muebles.”

Correction: Yo estoy moviendo los muebles. Remember, 'moviendo' needs a helper verb like 'estar' to make a complete sentence.

temblando

tem-BLAN-dohtemˈblando

VerbA2General
Use 'temblando' to describe involuntary shaking caused by strong emotions like fear, or by physical conditions like cold or illness.
A small, cute puppy standing in the cold, visibly shivering with small vibration lines around its body.

Examples

Estoy temblando de frío por la nieve.

I am shivering with cold because of the snow.

Ella estaba temblando de miedo antes del examen.

She was shaking with fear before the exam.

Sus manos seguían temblando después del accidente.

His hands kept shaking after the accident.

The '-ando' ending

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

Using with 'Estar'

To say you 'are shaking,' use a form of 'estar' (like 'estoy' or 'estás') before 'temblando'.

Don't use it as a noun

Mistake: “El temblando fue fuerte.”

Correction: El temblor fue fuerte.

agitación

NounB1General
Choose 'agitación' when describing the physical act of vigorously shaking a container or its contents, often to mix them.

Examples

La agitación del frasco es necesaria antes de usar la medicina.

Shaking the bottle is necessary before using the medicine.

vibración

NounB1General
Use 'vibración' for the specific, often rapid, trembling or buzzing movement, commonly associated with devices like phones or machinery.

Examples

La vibración del teléfono me despertó.

The vibration of the phone woke me up.

Distinguishing Physical Movement

Learners often confuse 'agitación' and 'vibración.' Remember that 'agitación' implies actively shaking something yourself, like a bottle, whereas 'vibración' describes a passive, often mechanical, tremor, such as a phone buzzing.

Related Translations

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