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"Ir" is an intransitive verb which is often translated as "to go", and "andar" is an intransitive verb which is often translated as "to walk". Learn more about the difference between "ir" and "andar" below.
ir(
eer
)
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
intransitive verb
a. to go
Ayer Ana y yo fuimos al cine.Yesterday, Ana and I went to the movies.
a. to go
Por aquí no se va a la estación.This is not the way to go to the station.
a. to be
¿Has ido alguna vez a Chile?Have you ever been to Chile?
a. to go
¿Cómo te van los estudios?How's college going?
a. to go
Los platos van en el armario.Dishes go in the cupboard.
a. to go
El festival va del primero de abril hasta el primero de mayo.The festival goes from April first to May first.
a. to wear
Iba con botas amarillas.She wore yellow boots.
b. to be dressed in (color)
Iba de verde por el día de San Patricio.She was dressed in green for St. Patrick's Day.
a. to work
El portátil va bien.The laptop works well.
b. to run
Mi carro ha ido sin problema durante años.My car has run without an issue for years.
a. to be on
Voy por la página 50 de "San Manuel Bueno, mártir".I'm on page 50 of "San Manuel Bueno, Martyr."
a. to study to be
Mi primo va para cocinero.My cousin is studying to be a cook.
a. to go
Mi hermana va a la primaria al lado de la estación de bomberos.My sister goes to the elementary school next to the firestation.
a. to look
¡Vas muy guapa! Me encanta tu vestido.You look gorgeous! I love your dress.
a. to go with
Esa camisa roja no le va a ese pantalón amarillo.That red shirt doesn't go with those yellow pants.
An auxiliary verb, or helper verb, is a conjugated verb that comes before a main verb and determines the main verb's tense, mood, or aspect (e.g., I have gone.).
auxiliary verb
a. to go
¡Papá va a cocinar una cena espectacular!Dad is going to cook a wonderful dinner!
a. to be
Voy planificando la fiesta.I am planning the party.
irse
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
pronominal verb
a. to leave
El alumno se fue de la biblioteca muy tarde.The student left the library very late.
b. to go
¡Vámonos! El camión nos va a dejar.Let's go! The bus is going to leave us behind.
a.
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
no direct translation
A la piscina se le fue todo el agua.All the water leaked from the pool.
A la llanta se le fue el aire.The tire went flat.
a. to die
Se nos fue muy joven.He died too young.
a. to go away
Con esta pastilla se te irá el dolor.This pill will make the pain go away.
a. to forget
¿Cómo se llama ese hombre? Lo sabía, pero se me fue.What's that man's name? I knew it, but I forgot.
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andar, el andar(
ahn
-
dahr
)
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
intransitive verb
a. to walk
"Cuando ando, me canso mucho", le dijo la anciana a su médico."When I walk, I get very tired," the old woman told her doctor.
Voy andando al colegio todos los días.I walk to school every day.
2. (to mount; used with "en")
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
(Latin America)
a. to ride
¿Sabes andar en bicicleta?Can you ride a bike?
3. (to travel by; used with "en")
Regionalism used in Mexico
(Mexico)
a. to take
Yo siempre ando en tren cuando regreso al hogar.I always take the train when returning home.
En el verano ella anda en bicicleta al trabajo.In the summer she takes her bike to work.
a. to work
La lavadora no anda.The washing machine isn't working.
a. to go
Mi matrimonio no anda bien.My marriage is not going well.
b. to be
¿Qué haces? - Ahora mismo ando limpiando la casa.What are you doing? - I'm cleaning the house right now.
a. to hang out with
¿Sabías que tu hijo anda con una gente muy rara?Did you know your son hangs out with some very strange people?
a. to go out with
¿Sabías que Ana anda con Miguel? - ¡No, no lo sabía! ¿Desde cuándo?Did you know that Ana is going out with Miguel? - No, I didn't! Since when?
a. to be around
El costo medio de un sitio web anda por los $2000.The average cost of a website is around $2000.
A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
transitive verb
a. to walk
Estoy agotada porque esta mañana anduve 20 kilómetros.I'm exhausted because I walked 20 kilometers this morning.
A masculine noun is used with masculine articles and adjectives (e.g., el hombre guapo, el sol amarillo).
masculine noun
a. gait
Lo conocí de lejos por ese andar raro que tiene.I recognized him from a distance by his strange gait.
b. walk
Supe que eras tú por tu andar.I knew it was you from your walk.
c.
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
no direct translation
¡Qué andar tan raro tienen esos jóvenes!The way those youths walk is really strange!
Se le nota en el andar que tiene mucho dolor.You can tell by the way she walks that she's in a lot of pain.
andarse
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
pronominal verb
a. to be
En ese vecindario tienes que andarte con ojo.You have to be careful in that neighborhood.
los andares
A plural noun indicates that there is more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
plural noun
a. gait
El jefe entró en nuestra sala con andares decididos y dijo, "Tengo algo importante que comunicarles".The boss entered our room with a determined gait and said, "I have something important to tell you."
b. walk
Alicia tiene los andares de su madre.Alicia has her mother's walk.
c.
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
no direct translation
Me gusta todo de ti, hasta los andares.I like everything about you, even the way you walk.
El Charlot de Charlie Chaplin tiene unos andares totalmente inconfundibles.The way Charlie Chaplin's tramp walks is completely unmistakeable.
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