viajar
/bjaˈxaɾ/
The Spanish word for travelling is viajar.
viajar is the verb meaning the action of travelling. In some Latin American countries, you might use mochilear to specifically mean to backpack or turistear to mean touring as a tourist.
Meaning: action of travelling (noun)
Which one should you use?
In English, you might use the gerund travelling as a noun (for example, as the subject of a sentence), but in Spanish, you use the infinitive form viajar for this purpose.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some parts of Latin America, the term mochilear is used for backpacking and turistear is used for touring as a tourist.
How does it change in a sentence?
While viajar is the verb for the action, the word viaje is the noun used to refer to a specific trip or journey. To express the continuous action of travelling, such as in the phrase 'I am travelling', use the gerund viajando.
How do you pronounce it?
/bjaˈxaɾ/
When do people say it?
In Spain, the Camino de Santiago is a famous pilgrimage route that holds significant historical and spiritual importance.
Did you know?
- The Spanish verb viajar likely entered the language via the Catalan word viatjar, which itself grew from the noun viatge.
- In certain slang contexts, viajar can describe someone who is daydreaming or 'out of it', meaning their mind is travelling far from the current conversation.
- In many Spanish-speaking countries, the word viaje is used as slang to describe a psychedelic 'trip' induced by drugs.
Examples in context
- Mañana viajaré a París.I'm travelling to Paris tomorrow.This sentence shows how to use viajar to indicate a destination.Tatoeba #1100837 by Shishir, translation #698978 by Zifre
- No tengo ganas de viajar.I don't feel like travelling.This sentence uses viajar to express a lack of desire to travel.Tatoeba #2053244 by Shishir, translation #12901750 by araneo
- Hoy en día es fácil viajar.Travelling is easy these days.This sentence demonstrates using viajar as the subject of a sentence where English would use a gerund.Tatoeba #947258 by hayastan, translation #18688 by Zifre
- Me encanta viajar a lugares exóticos todos los veranos.I love traveling to exotic places every summer.
- Necesito desplazarme a diferentes ciudades por motivos de trabajo.I need to travel to different cities for work reasons.
- Planeo recorrer Europa en un mes y visitar sus principales capitales.I plan to travel around Europe in one month and visit its main capitals.
- ¿Te gustaría irte de viaje a la playa con nosotros este fin de semana?Would you like to go on a trip to the beach with us this weekend?
- Vamos a salir de paseo por el centro histórico de la ciudad.Let's go for a stroll around the city's historic center.
- ¡Me muero por escaparme unos días a la montaña y desconectar de todo!I'm dying to escape to the mountains for a few days and disconnect from everything!
- 10 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are talking at a coffee shop about their hobbies.
- MaríaMe encanta viajar por el mundo.I love travelling around the world.
- Mateo¿A qué países te gustaría viajar?To which countries would you like to travel?
- MaríaQuiero viajar a Japón pronto.I want to travel to Japan soon.
- MateoEs un plan fantástico, María.That is a fantastic plan, Maria.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry viajar, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries viajar, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
