Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
How to Say -ing in Spanish: The Gerund (-ando / -endo / -iendo)
-Ando / -Endo · suffix / verb form · AHN-doh / EHN-doh
The English '-ing' suffix corresponds to Spanish gerund endings: '-ando' for -ar verbs (hablar → hablando), '-iendo' for -er and -ir verbs (comer → comiendo, vivir → viviendo). These forms combine with 'estar' to create the present progressive tense, expressing actions in progress. The gerund also appears independently as an adverb of manner.
Pronounce '-ando' as AHN-doh and '-iendo' as ee-EHN-doh. The endings always carry consistent stress on the second-to-last syllable of the full gerund.
Estoy estudiando español todos los días para mejorar mi pronunciación.
I am studying Spanish every day to improve my pronunciation.
-ing in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for -ing, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| -ando / -endo | -ing | AHN-doh / EHN-doh | Default, widely understood |
| -iendo | -ing | variant of -endo used with -ir verbs and some -er verbs |
How Native Speakers Use -Ando / -Endo
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Present progressive
Los niños están jugando en el parque.
The children are playing in the park.
Describing an action happening right now.
Adverbial use
Salió corriendo de la casa cuando escuchó la alarma.
He ran out of the house when he heard the alarm.
Using the gerund to describe how an action was performed.
Irregular gerund
¿Qué estás leyendo en este momento?
What are you reading right now?
Asking about a current activity with an irregular gerund (leer → leyendo).
Avoid These Mistakes When Using -Ando / -Endo
Overusing the gerund for nouns
Incorrect: Nadar es divertido → Nadando es divertido.
Correct: Nadar es divertido.
In English, '-ing' can function as a noun (swimming is fun), but in Spanish the infinitive is used for this purpose, not the gerund.
Applying -ando to all verbs
Incorrect: Estoy comando la cena.
Correct: Estoy comiendo la cena.
Only -ar verbs use '-ando'; -er and -ir verbs use '-iendo' (or '-endo' variants), so 'comer' becomes 'comiendo,' not 'comando.'
Lock in -ing Vocabulary with the Parrot Method
Why word lists alone don't stick
Memorizing a translation feels productive, but most learners forget 70% of what they studied within 48 hours. Vocabulary needs spaced repetition AND real-world exposure to transfer to long-term memory.
See -Ando / -Endo used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using -ando / -endo in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear Estoy estudiando español todos los días para mejorar mi pronunciación. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.
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Common Questions About -ing in Spanish
- Is the Spanish gerund the same as the English '-ing' form?
- While both indicate ongoing action, the Spanish gerund is used more narrowly than English '-ing,' because in Spanish the infinitive replaces the gerund in noun-like functions (e.g., 'Cooking is fun' = 'Cocinar es divertido').
- What are common irregular gerunds in Spanish?
- Several high-frequency verbs have irregular gerunds: 'leer' becomes 'leyendo,' 'dormir' becomes 'durmiendo,' 'decir' becomes 'diciendo,' and 'ir' becomes 'yendo.'
- Can I use the gerund without 'estar'?
- The gerund can stand alone as an adverb describing how an action is performed, such as 'Llegó cantando' (She arrived singing), where it modifies the main verb without needing 'estar.'