Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| al azar | /al aˈθaɾ/ /al aˈsaɾ/ |
|
| a voleo | /a boˈleo/ | |
| al voleo | /al boˈleo/ | |
| alrandon | /alˈrandon/ | US |
Spanish speakers use several terms to express that something is done in a random way. Al azar means 'at random' or 'by chance' and implies a lack of pattern or a selection made by chance. Sin orden aparente is used when you want to express that something is happening without a clear or apparent order. A voleo or al voleo is used to describe things being thrown or distributed in a scattered, unorganized or haphazard manner.
Which one should you use?
While al azar implies a lack of pattern or a selection by chance, a voleo emphasizes the physical scattering or haphazard distribution of objects. For more intense or disorganized actions, a lo loco can be used to mean 'crazily' or 'wildly' and the colloquial phrase al tuntún specifically describes doing something haphazardly or without thinking.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Al azar is the standard, most common way to say 'randomly' in any context. For more formal writing or speech, you can use aleatoriamente. If you are in an informal setting, you might use the colloquial al tuntún to mean haphazardly or the informal a lo loco to mean crazily. A voleo is also considered a colloquial way to describe scattered distribution.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some Spanish-speaking communities in the US, the Spanglish term alrandon (derived from the English word 'random') is sometimes used.
How do you pronounce it?
/al aˈθaɾ/
Did you know?
Examples in context
- Mis libros no son libros, sino hojas separadas que han caído casi al azar en la ruta de mi vida.My books aren't books, but individual sheets of paper that fell almost randomly on the path of my life.This sentence shows how al azar can describe things falling into one's life by chance.Tatoeba #2691582 by Shishir, translation #10098124 by DJ_Saidez
- El tiempo de espera fue asignado aleatoriamenteThe waiting time was assigned randomly
- Seleccione una carta al azarSelect a card randomly
- Debes colocar los objetos sin orden aparenteYou should place the objects without a clear order
- Ella escoge sus películas de forma aleatoriaShe chooses her movies randomly
- Escribí los números al tuntúnI wrote down the numbers randomly
- Seleccioné una opción completamente aleatoriaI selected a completely random option
- El número de teléfono cambia constantemente al azarThe telephone number randomly changes frequently
- Ella decidió estudiar francés sin orden aparente, de forma aleatoriaShe decided to study French randomly, without a clear order
- Elegimos los ganadores al azar.We chose the winners randomly.
- Las piezas se colocaron al azar en la mesa.The pieces were placed randomly on the table.
Example conversation
María and Javier are deciding what to eat.
- MaríaNo sé qué pedir para cenar.I don't know what to order for dinner.
- JavierPuedes elegir un plato al azar.You can pick a dish randomly.
- MaríaEstá bien, lo haré así.All right, I'll do that.
- Javier¡Dime qué salió!Tell me what you got!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “randomly” translations and entries al azar, a voleo, al voleo, alrandon, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries a, al azar, azar, voleo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
