andar con
/andaɾ kon/from spelling rules
To be around in Spanish is translated as andar con. Wiktionary also lists con… andar.
Meaning: to be near, to socialize with (verb)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| andar con | /andaɾ kon/ (from spelling rules) |
| con… andar | /kon anˈdaɾ/ (word by word) |
The phrase andar con can mean to physically walk with someone, but it is more frequently used idiomatically to mean socializing with or being in a relationship with someone. In many Spanish-speaking contexts, it implies that two people are 'seeing' each other or are dating.
Which one should you use?
The construction con… andar is another way to express a similar idea.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In certain Latin American countries, the phrase andar por is used to mean 'to be around'.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase is conjugated using the verb andar. For example, the past tense form anduvo con can be used to say someone 'was around' or 'was dating' someone, such as in él anduvo con ella (he was seeing her).
Did you know?
- The irregular past tense of andar is unusual because it likely borrowed its root from the verb haber, meaning 'to have'.
- In some regions, andar con can be used euphemistically to suggest someone is behaving suspiciously or is 'up to something' when the object of the sentence is omitted.
- In certain contexts, andar con can be used to describe someone's general behavior or the 'vibe' they carry, such as 'andando con cuidado' for 'acting/moving carefully'.
Examples in context
- No sé, debe estar por ahíI don't know, he must be around somewhere
- Cuando termines tu trabajo, avísame. Yo estaré por ahíLet me know when you finish your work. I'll be around
- Voy a estar cerca si necesitas ayudaI'll be close by if you need help
- Mis amigos están siempre cerca cuando los necesitoMy friends are always around when I need them
- Si quieres encontrarme, suelo andar por el parque a esta horaIf you want to find me, I usually hang around the park at this time
- No me gusta andar con gente problemática.I don't like to hang out with problematic people.
- Él suele andar con los chicos de la escuela.He usually hangs out with the boys from school.
Example conversation
Daniel and María are talking about a mutual acquaintance.
- DanielHe oído que Daniel anda con un grupo nuevo.I heard that Daniel is hanging around a new group.
- MaríaSí, María, parece que son muy divertidos.Yes, María, they seem to be very fun.
- DanielNo sé si es bueno andar con ellos.I don't know if it's good to be around them.
- MaríaDale una oportunidad para conocerlos mejor.Give them a chance to get to know them better.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “be around” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (con, andar) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries andar, con, CC BY-SA 4.0.
