How to Say "was walking" in Spanish
The Spanish word for “was walking” is “andaba” — A2 level. This is a very common word in everyday Spanish.
Examples
Mi abuelo andaba diez kilómetros cada día.
My grandfather used to walk ten kilometers every day.
Ella andaba por la calle cuando la vi.
She was walking down the street when I saw her.
Ese reloj nunca andaba bien.
That watch never worked well (used to function well).
The Imperfect Tense
This verb form tells a story about the past, describing actions that were repeated, continuous, or served as background information. Think of it as 'used to' or 'was/were + -ing'.
Who is 'Andaba'?
'Andaba' can mean 'I was walking' (Yo) or 'He/She/It was walking' (Él/Ella) or 'You formal were walking' (Usted). You need the subject (or context) to know who is doing the action.
Imperfect vs. Preterite
Mistake: “Usando 'anduvo' para una descripción: 'La calle anduvo llena de gente.'”
Correction: Use 'andaba' for descriptions and habitual actions: 'La calle andaba llena de gente.' (The street was full of people.) Use 'anduvo' only for a single, completed action.
Related Translations
Learn Spanish with Inklingo
Interactive stories, personalized learning, and more.