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How to Say "soaring" in Spanish

English → Spanish

volando

voh-LAHN-doh/boˈlan.do/

Verb Form (Gerund)A1General
Use this when describing something actively in flight, like an airplane or bird, usually at a high altitude.
A bright blue stylized bird soaring high in a sunny blue sky with its wings fully extended.

Examples

El avión está volando sobre las montañas.

The plane is flying over the mountains.

Estuvimos volando por diez horas hasta llegar a Madrid.

We were flying for ten hours until we arrived in Madrid.

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).

planeando

plah-neh-AHN-doh/pla.neˈan.do/

VerbB1General
Choose this for the specific action of an object, like a bird or glider, moving through the air without flapping its wings.
A large, majestic brown eagle with stationary, wide wings soaring effortlessly across a bright blue sky above rolling green hills, demonstrating gliding.

Examples

El águila estaba planeando sobre las montañas.

The eagle was gliding/soaring over the mountains.

Vimos un avión planeando antes de aterrizar.

We saw a plane gliding before landing.

Context is Key

When you see 'planeando' used with birds, wind, or aircraft, it refers to movement, not organization. The Spanish word covers both 'planning' and 'gliding'.

disparado

dees-pah-RAH-doh/dis.paˈɾa.ðo/

AdjectiveB1General
Use this when 'soaring' refers to a rapid, uncontrolled increase in something, like prices or statistics.
A shiny golden coin rapidly shooting straight up into the sky, illustrating a sudden and large increase.

Examples

La inflación ha estado disparada este año.

Inflation has skyrocketed this year.

El precio del petróleo está disparado.

The price of oil is soaring (very high).

Sus ventas se fueron disparadas después de la publicidad.

Their sales went through the roof (skyrocketed) after the advertising.

Changing the Ending

As an adjective, 'disparado' must match the thing it describes in gender (masculine/feminine) and number (singular/plural): 'la inflación disparada', 'los precios disparados'.

vuelo

/bwéh-loh//ˈbwelɔ/

NounB2General
This noun is used when 'soaring' refers to the act of taking flight or a grand, elevated movement, often metaphorically.
A small blue bird mid-flight, gliding through the air with its wings spread open.

Examples

El águila tomó el vuelo y se perdió en el cielo azul.

The eagle took flight and disappeared into the blue sky.

El ensayo carecía de vuelo; era demasiado simple.

The essay lacked flair/originality; it was too simple.

Los científicos necesitan dar vuelo a su imaginación para resolver este problema.

Scientists need to let their imagination soar (take flight) to solve this problem.

Figurative Use

In its figurative sense, 'vuelo' is often paired with abstract nouns like 'imaginación' or 'creatividad' to mean 'scope' or 'freedom'.

Literal vs. Figurative 'Soaring'

Learners often confuse the literal act of flying with rapid growth. Remember that 'volando' and 'planeando' describe actual flight, while 'disparado' is for fast increases (like prices). 'Vuelo' can be literal flight or a more abstract, grand movement.

Related Translations

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