en camino
/en kaˈmino/
The English abbreviation "otw" (on the way) can be translated into Spanish as en camino.
en camino is used to indicate that someone or something is currently in transit toward a destination. This applies to both people and inanimate objects, such as a package or a delivery.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase en camino is composed of the preposition en (on/in) and the noun camino (path/way), literally meaning "on path."
How do you pronounce it?
/en kaˈmino/
Did you know?
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, saying en camino is often seen as a polite social filler that might actually mean you are still getting ready to leave.
- The root of camino originates from Gaulish, a Celtic language, rather than directly from Classical Latin. This shows the influence of Celtic tribes on the vocabulary of the Roman Empire in Iberia.
- The word camino is a key part of the 'Camino de Santiago', a famous network of medieval pilgrimage routes in Spain. These paths have drawn millions of travelers to the cathedral in Santiago de Compostela for centuries.
Examples in context
- En camino, llegaré en unos minutosOn the way, I'll arrive in a few minutes.
- Ya voy, no tardaré muchoI'm on my way, I won't be long.
- Estoy llegando, ¿dónde nos vemos exactamente?I'm coming, where exactly shall we meet?
- Ya estoy en camino.I am already on my way.
- Ella viene en camino a la oficina.She is on her way to the office.
- El pedido está en camino.The order is on its way.
Example conversation
Javier is calling Lucía to let her know he is coming to her house.
- JavierHola Lucía, ya estoy en camino.Hi Lucía, I am already on my way.
- Lucía¡Genial! Te espero aquí.Great! I'll wait for you here.
- JavierLlego en diez minutos.I'll be there in ten minutes.
- LucíaPerfecto, nos vemos pronto.Perfect, see you soon.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry en camino, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries camino, en, CC BY-SA 4.0.
