The verb ANDAR in Portuguese doesn’t just mean walking. It’s a go-to verb to talk about what you’ve been doing or how you’ve been feeling lately. Want to sound more natural when speaking Portuguese? Read this short lesson and watch the reel to see how Brazilians use andar in everyday conversations — and start using it yourself!
Verb Andar in Portuguese: More Than Just Walking
Eu ando pensando na vida.
No, it doesn’t mean that I’m walking while thinking about life.
It means that lately I’ve been thinking about life.
We often use the verb ANDAR to talk about what we have been doing or how we have been.
Here are examples:
1) Eu ando sem tempo pra malhar.
I haven’t had time to work out.
2) Eu ando preocupada com ele.
I’ve been worried about him.
👀 Notice the different prepositions in Portuguese and English 👆🏼
3) Camila anda falando em sair do trabalho.
Camila has been talking about leaving her job.
👀 Notice the verb tenses 👆🏼
Watch this reel to hear me say the examples out loud and hear the pronunciation:
Is it the same as “estar”?
A YouTube viewer asked a great question: “So, it’s like replacing ‘estar’ with ‘andar’?”
Not exactly. Not always.
For instance, if my mom and I are worried about someone, she might say:
“Eu ando preocupada com ela.”
This means: I’ve been worried about her.
Using “eu ando” expresses something ongoing, like “I’ve been feeling this way lately”.
Even if my mom says “estou preocupada com ela”, because of the context, I’d still understand that she’s been worried for some time, not just in that moment.
Now imagine this other situation: I’m tired after a long day of work, and my husband suggests we go out. I’ll say:
“Estou cansada.”
I’m telling him, “I’m tired right now.”
However, if I say, “Eu ando cansada“, it means I’ve been feeling tired lately, which is a different message.
See the difference?
How the meaning changes when you use the past tense: Shifting from ongoing to past feelings
When you switch from ando to andei, you’re no longer talking about something ongoing — you’re signaling that it’s in the past.
This subtle shift in verb tense can change the entire meaning of what you’re expressing.
Let’s look at how this works in practice 👇🏼
1) Eu andei preocupada com ele, mas depois decidi não me envolver na situação.
I was worried about him for a while, but then I decided not to get involved in the situation.
2) Eu andei sem tempo para malhar, mas estou muito feliz agora que estou malhando de novo.
I was short on time to work out for a while, but I’m happy now that I’m working out again.
3) Camila andou falando em sair do trabalho, mas depois decidiu continuar na empresa.
Camila had been talking about quitting her job, but then she decided to stay at the company.
I hope you will start incorporating this use of the verb andar into your conversations in Portuguese. It’s a great way to sound more natural.
🇧🇷 Check out my Bootcamp de Verbos e Preposições
If matching the right verb with the correct preposition feels like a struggle, I’m here to help!
Let me introduce you to my Bootcamp de Verbos e Preposições 🔥
Learn and practice 25 key verb-preposition combinations with immersive, story-driven practice. Perfect for intermediate learners looking to sharpen their communication skills for everyday conversations.
With this value bundle, you’ll gain access to these bonus courses:
- Bootcamp do Verbo Gostar
- Bootcamp das Preposições Por e Para (coming in October)
- Artigos em Português 101
👉🏼 Learn more and get started today. Porque seu português merece 🇧🇷
