Inklingo

How to Say "walk" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “walk” is “andar” — use 'andar' to describe the general act of moving on foot, often implying a relaxed or unhurried pace, similar to 'to walk' or 'to go'.

andar🔊A1

Use 'andar' to describe the general act of moving on foot, often implying a relaxed or unhurried pace, similar to 'to walk' or 'to go'.

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paseo🔊A1

Use 'paseo' when referring to a walk taken for pleasure or recreation, like a stroll in the park or a leisurely walk after a meal.

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marchar🔊A2

Use 'marchar' to describe a more deliberate and often organized movement on foot, commonly used for soldiers, groups, or when indicating a steady pace.

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vuelta🔊A2

Use 'vuelta' to specifically refer to a short, casual walk taken for pleasure or to go somewhere nearby, similar to 'a stroll' or 'a quick walk'.

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marcha🔊A1

Use 'marcha' to describe the act or pace of walking, especially in a more formal or organized context, like the pace of a group or an army.

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English → Spanish

andar

ahn-DAHRanˈdaɾ

verbA1general
Use 'andar' to describe the general act of moving on foot, often implying a relaxed or unhurried pace, similar to 'to walk' or 'to go'.
A colorful storybook illustration showing a child in a red jacket walking along a winding path surrounded by grass.

Examples

Me gusta andar por la playa al amanecer.

I like walking along the beach at sunrise.

Anduvimos diez kilómetros antes de encontrar el pueblo.

We walked ten kilometers before finding the village.

El niño ya anda solo, sin ayuda de sus padres.

The child already walks by himself, without his parents' help.

Irregular Past Tense

The past tense (preterite) is tricky! It uses the special stem 'anduv-' instead of the regular 'andar'. Memorize: 'anduve', 'anduvo', 'anduvieron'.

paseo

pah-seh-ohpaˈseo

nounA1general
Use 'paseo' when referring to a walk taken for pleasure or recreation, like a stroll in the park or a leisurely walk after a meal.
A smiling person strolling outdoors on a sunny path, enjoying a leisurely walk.

Examples

Dimos un largo paseo por el parque después de cenar.

We took a long walk through the park after dinner.

¿Quieres ir a dar un paseo mañana por la mañana?

Do you want to go for a stroll tomorrow morning?

Using the Right Verb

To say 'to take a walk' in Spanish, use the verb 'dar' (to give), resulting in 'dar un paseo', not the verb 'hacer' (to do/make).

Taking vs. Giving a Walk

Mistake: “Hicimos un paseo.”

Correction: Dimos un paseo. (Remember: Spanish 'gives' a walk, it doesn't 'make' one.)

marchar

mar-CHARmaɾˈtʃaɾ

verbA2general
Use 'marchar' to describe a more deliberate and often organized movement on foot, commonly used for soldiers, groups, or when indicating a steady pace.
A line of three cartoon figures, perhaps soldiers or scouts, walking in step with determined expressions.

Examples

Los soldados marcharon durante horas bajo la lluvia.

The soldiers marched for hours under the rain.

La manifestación marchó por el centro de la ciudad.

The demonstration walked (marched) through the center of the city.

Regular -AR Verb

Marchar follows the standard pattern for all verbs ending in -ar. Once you know the pattern for one, you know it for all!

vuelta

bwel-taˈbwelta

nounA2general
Use 'vuelta' to specifically refer to a short, casual walk taken for pleasure or to go somewhere nearby, similar to 'a stroll' or 'a quick walk'.
Two people taking a leisurely stroll down a sunny, winding path in a lush green park.

Examples

Vamos a dar una vuelta por el parque.

Let's go for a walk in the park.

Dimos una vuelta en coche por la costa.

We went for a drive along the coast.

¿Quieres dar una vuelta en mi bici nueva?

Do you want to go for a ride on my new bike?

The Super-Phrase: 'dar una vuelta'

The phrase 'dar una vuelta' is your best friend for suggesting a casual outing. It's less formal than 'ir a caminar' (to go walking) and works for walking, driving, biking, and more.

marcha

MAR-chahˈmartʃa

nounA1general
Use 'marcha' to describe the act or pace of walking, especially in a more formal or organized context, like the pace of a group or an army.
A simple illustration of a person walking briskly along a sunny path, indicating the act of walking.

Examples

La marcha del ejército era lenta y coordinada.

The army's walk/pace was slow and coordinated.

Después de un largo día, regresamos a casa en marcha rápida.

After a long day, we returned home at a quick pace.

Gender Tip

Remember that 'marcha' is always feminine, even though it ends in 'a'. Use 'la marcha'.

Paseo vs. Andar

The most common confusion is between 'paseo' (a noun for a recreational walk) and 'andar' (a verb for the general act of walking). Remember that 'paseo' is always a noun for a specific type of enjoyable walk, while 'andar' is the verb describing the action itself.

Related Translations

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