vadear
/badeˈaɾ/
To wade in Spanish is vadear.
The verb vadear is used to describe the action of walking through water or something that impedes progress. The related noun vadeo refers to the act of wading itself.
Meaning: to walk through water or something that impedes progress (verb)
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some Latin American countries, chapotear can be used to describe wading.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
/badeˈaɾ/
Did you know?
- The Spanish vado and the English word 'water' both trace their ancestry back to the same Proto-Indo-European root, *weh₂dʰ-, which relates to flowing liquids.
- In Spanish, vadear can be used metaphorically to describe the process of navigating or surviving a personal crisis.
- The verb vadear is built from the noun vado, which describes a 'ford', a specific shallow point in a river where it is safe to cross.
Examples in context
- Se metió en el agua poco profundaShe waded in the shallow pool
- A ella le encantaba chapotear en las olas en la playa.She loved wading in the waves at the beach.
- Tuve que vadear el río para llegar a la otra orilla.I had to wade through the river to reach the other side.
- Tenemos que vadear el río para llegar al otro lado.We have to wade through the river to get to the other side.
- No es seguro vadear por zonas tan profundas.It is not safe to wade through such deep areas.
Example conversation
Lucía and Mateo are hiking and encounter a shallow stream.
- LucíaMira, podemos vadear el agua por aquí.Look, we can wade through the water here.
- Mateo¿Estás segura de que no es muy profundo?Are you sure it's not too deep?
- LucíaSí, Mateo, es seguro vadear en esta zona.Yes, Mateo, it's safe to wade in this area.
- MateoEstá bien, cruzaré contigo entonces.Alright, I'll cross with you then.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “wade” translations and entries vadear, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries vadear, CC BY-SA 4.0.
