How to Say “Run” in Spanish: A Complete Guide for Learners
When you start learning Spanish, one of the first action verbs you’ll encounter is to run. Knowing how to express this idea correctly opens the door to describing sports, daily routines, emergencies, and even figurative speech. This guide walks you through the literal translation, verb conjugations, practical usage, regional nuances, synonyms, idiomatic expressions, common pitfalls, and practice exercises so you can confidently say “run” in Spanish in any context Small thing, real impact..
Basic Translation: The Verb correr
The most direct translation of the English verb to run is correr. It is a regular -er verb, which means its conjugation follows predictable patterns. In its infinitive form, correr appears in dictionaries and verb tables as the base form you will modify according to tense, mood, and subject That's the whole idea..
Example: Me gusta correr por la mañana.
(I like to run in the morning.)
Because correr is used for both literal running (moving quickly on foot) and figurative senses (e.Now, g. , “time runs fast”), mastering it gives you a versatile tool for everyday communication.
Conjugation of correr in Key Tenses
Below are the most frequently used tenses for beginners and intermediate learners. Bold highlights the stem changes (none for correr), while italics indicate the ending that changes with each subject pronoun It's one of those things that adds up..
Present Indicative (Presente de Indicativo)
| Subject | Conjugation | English |
|---|---|---|
| yo | corro | I run |
| tú | corres | you run (informal) |
| él/ella/usted | corre | he/she/you run (formal) |
| nosotros/as | corremos | we run |
| vosotros/as | corréis | you all run (Spain) |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | corren | they/you all run |
It sounds simple, but the gap is usually here.
Preterite Pretérito Perfecto Simple
| Subject | Conjugation | English |
|---|---|---|
| yo | corrí | I ran |
| tú | corriste | you ran |
| él/ella/usted | corrió | he/she/you ran |
| nosotros/as | corrimos | we ran |
| vosotros/as | corristeis | you all ran |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | corrieron | they/you all ran |
Imperfect Pretérito Imperfecto
| Subject | Conjugation | English |
|---|---|---|
| yo | corría | I was running / I used to run |
| tú | corrías | you were running |
| él/ella/usted | corría | he/she/you was running |
| nosotros/as | corríamos | we were running |
| vosotros/as | corríais | you all were running |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | corrían | they/you all were running |
Future Simple Futuro Simple
| Subject | Conjugation | English |
|---|---|---|
| yo | correré | I will run |
| tú | correrás | you will run |
| él/ella/usted | correrá | he/she/you will run |
| nosotros/as | correremos | we will run |
| vosotros/as | correréis | you all will run |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | correrán | they/you all will run |
Present Subjunctive Presente de Subjuntivo
| Subject | Conjugation | English |
|---|---|---|
| yo | corra | that I run |
| tú | corras | that you run |
| él/ella/usted | corra | that he/she/you run |
| nosotros/as | corramos | that we run |
| vosotros/as | corráis | that you all run |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | corran | that they/you all run |
Note: The subjunctive is used after expressions of doubt, desire, or emotion (e.g., Espero que tú corras más rápido – I hope you run faster) Less friction, more output..
Using correr in Sentences
Seeing the verb in action helps solidify its meaning. Below are varied examples that illustrate different tenses, moods, and contexts.
-
Present Indicative – Routine
Los niños corren en el parque cada tarde.
(The children run in the park every afternoon.) -
Preterite – Completed Action
Ayer corrí cinco kilómetros antes del desayuno.
(Yesterday I ran five kilometers before breakfast.) -
Imperfect – Ongoing Past Action
Cuando era joven, corría todas las mañanas.
(When I was young, I used to run every morning.) -
Future – Plans or Predictions
Mañana correremos el maratón de la ciudad.
(Tomorrow we will run the city marathon.) -
Subjunctive – Wish or Recommendation
Es importante que tú corras con zapatillas adecuadas.
(It’s important that you run with proper shoes.) -
Imperative – Giving Commands
¡Corre rápido! (Affirmative informal) – Run fast!
No corras por el pasillo. (Negative informal) – Don’t run in the hallway.
Regional Variations and Synonyms
While correr is understood everywhere, Spanish‑speaking regions sometimes prefer alternative verbs or expressions that convey a similar idea.
| Region | Alternative Verb / Phrase | Nuance |
|---|---|---|
| Mexico, Central America | trotar | To jog (a slower, steady run) |
| Argentina, Uruguay | correr (same) but often andar a pie rápido in colloquial speech | Emphasizes fast walking/running |
| Spain | correr (standard) but also sprintar (borrowed from English) for short bursts | Used in sports contexts |
| Caribbean | huir (to flee) when the sense is escaping danger | More about fleeing than exercise |
| Chile | correr |
Conditional Tense
The conditional presents actions that might occur under specific circumstances or expresses polite suggestions. When combined with correr, it allows speakers to imagine hypothetical outcomes or gentle requests No workaround needed..
- Si estudias mucho, correrás mejor en tus exámenes. (If you study hard, you will perform better on your exams.)
- Me encantaría que corrieras un poco después de la comida, pero no es obligatorio. (I would love for you to run a little after lunch, though it isn’t mandatory.)
