vs
QUICK ANSWER
"Mirando" is a form of "mirar", a transitive verb which is often translated as "to look at". "Andando" is a form of "andar", an intransitive verb which is often translated as "to walk". Learn more about the difference between "mirando" and "andando" below.
mirar(
mee
-
rahr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
b. to watch (implies greater attention or time)
¡Deja de mirarme todo el tiempo! No estoy haciendo nada malo.Stop watching me all the time! I'm not doing anything wrong.
b. to make sure
Mira que tengas todo el dinero en la cartera.Make sure you have all the money in your wallet.
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
mirarse
A reflexive verb is a verb that indicates that the subject performs an action on itself (e.g., Miguel se lava.).
A reciprocal verb is a verb that indicates that two or more subjects perform an action on each other (e.g., Ellos se abrazan.).
a. to look at each other
Los enamorados se miraron y declararon su amor.The lovers looked at each other and declared their love.
andar, el andar(
ahn
-
dahr
)An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
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") (Latin America)
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
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.
4. (to operate)
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.).
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).
10. (movement)
a. gait
Lo conocí de lejos por ese andar raro que tiene.I recognized him from a distance by his strange gait.
c. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word 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.).
los andares
A plural noun indicates that there is more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
12. (movement)
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."
c. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word 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.
