caminar vs andar

Question

Both caminar and andar mean to walk. Is one more common or is one used more in different countries or does it pertain to the situation.

Answer 1

Caminar really only means "to walk." Andar, however, has multiple uses. To answer the question, to just express "to walk," caminar seems to be more used in my personal opinion. I highly encourage you to read about the uses of andar, though.

Here you can see MANY uses:

http://www.spanishdict.com/translate/andar http://www.wordreference.com/es/en/translation.asp?spen=andar

Examples:

• No me ando por las ramas. I don't beat about the bush.
• No sé la edad exacta del hombre pero anda por los cincuenta. I don't know the man's exact age but he's about 50.

Answer 2

Ando pensando, I am walking along thinking.

Andaba pensando, I was walking along thinking.

These are not correct. That's not the meaning.

"Ando pensando.....", "Andaba pensando......": These are not complete sentences, and mean; I am thinking about......., I was thinking about......

An example: "Ando pensando en comprame un auto nuevo". I'm thinking about buying a new car.

Yes, it was not a good example. If you check the source I used (501 verbs) you will see why I used it. - dennywells, Dec 21, 2013

Apart from "I'm thinking (about)" it can mean "I'm going around thinking", "I'm kicking it around (mentally)". - dennywells, Dec 21, 2013

)". Like you're activly thinking about it while doing other things, or thinking about it on an on-going basis. - dennywells, Dec 21, 2013

http://www.spanishdict.com/answers/129965/whats-the-difference-between-caminar-and-andar - dennywells, Dec 21, 2013

If you read what Nativo says in the above link, pretty much supports the example and the book 501 verbs. - dennywells, Dec 21, 2013

I don't really care. We don't use it to say "I'm going around thinking". That is extremely odd and no native speaker will use that, even if it's correct. - DualG, Dec 22, 2013

Fair enough, my 23 years of speaking Spanish with native speakers tells me otherwise, but I always try to keep an open mind :) - dennywells, Dec 23, 2013

Answer 3

Just out of interest I think you can say '' camino pensando'' as well, I think there is asong of that name.

¡Cómo no! Says I, as I slither through the minefield of grammar :) - dennywells, Dec 20, 2013

Well, I just can't see why not, but that doesn't mean I'm actually right. - annierats, Dec 20, 2013

Yes, I agree, a quick search reveals that it is a common phrase. Might even be another way to form the progressive tense...:) Maybe someone could clarify. - dennywells, Dec 20, 2013

Answer 4

One important difference in the use of the verb "andar" is it is one of several that can be used as a helping verb in place of "estar" to form the progressive tenses.

For example,

Estoy + (present participle) pensando, I am thinking.

Estaba pensando, I was thinking.

Ando pensando, I am walking along thinking.

Andaba pensando, I was walking along thinking.

Denny ando is like I go, and I am walking is camino.... - chileno, Dec 19, 2013

So, "andaba pensando" I went along thinking? "Iba pensando", I kept on thinking? Does that make sense? When to use ando or voy. Kind of confusing, for me as least. - dennywells, Dec 19, 2013

By the way, thank you for the clarification Chileno. - dennywells, Dec 19, 2013

I checked this in 501 Spanish Verbs under "The progressive forms of tenses, items 5 & 6". That's a reference I used a lot while studying verb conjugations. - dennywells, Dec 20, 2013

Yes, that is correct and you are welcome. - chileno, Dec 20, 2013

Answer 5

The song that uses them both.

La cucaracha, la cucaracha ya no puedo caminar. Porque le falta, porque le falta una pata para andar.