Turn this distinction into automatic recall
Falando teaches Brazilian Portuguese through grammar, vocabulary, audio, examples, and spaced review, so confusing pairs stop feeling like guesses.
Quick answer
Ir focuses on going somewhere. Andar focuses on movement, transport, or how someone has been doing.
A reliable test is to identify the job of the word before translating from English.
What each word does
ir
to go
Use ir for movement toward a destination or a planned trip.
andar
to walk, ride, or get around
Use andar for the way someone moves around or an activity repeated over time.
How to choose
- ir: Choose ir if the sentence points to movement toward a destination or a planned trip.
- andar: Choose andar if the sentence points to the way someone moves around or an activity repeated over time.
Examples
Vou ao mercado.
I am going to the market.
Ando de ônibus todos os dias.
I take the bus every day.
Common trap
Andar does not always mean “walk.” With de plus transport, it means to get around by that means.
Practice it in context
Pick one sentence from your real life and write it twice: once with ir, then once with andar. If both versions feel possible, name the meaning shift.
Turn this distinction into automatic recall
Falando teaches Brazilian Portuguese through grammar, vocabulary, audio, examples, and spaced review, so confusing pairs stop feeling like guesses.