These two Portuguese structures, Estar a fazer vs andar a fazer, don’t exactly mean the same thing. If you’re learning European Portuguese, you’ve probably seen both of these:
- Estou a fazer
- Ando a fazer
They both look like “to be doing” in English. But they are not interchangeable.
And if you use them randomly, you’ll sound slightly… off. Let’s fix that in this lesson!
1️⃣ Estar a + infinitive
What is happening right now
In European Portuguese, we use:
Estar a + infinitive
to describe something happening at this exact moment. Something that’s in the process of happening now.
Structure:
Estar (conjugated) + a + infinitive
Examples:
- Estou a trabalhar.
→ I am working (right now). - Ela está a estudar.
→ She is studying (at this moment). - Estamos a jantar.
→ We are having dinner.
This is the European Portuguese equivalent of the English present continuous (“am doing”).
Grammar Note
Unlike Brazilian Portuguese, which prefers the gerund:
- Estou fazendo
In European Portuguese, we do not use the gerund in normal speech.
We say:
- Estou a fazer
That “a” is essential. Never drop it.
This structure is not a verb tense. It is what we call a perífrase verbal (periphrastic construction) in Portuguese – a combination of two verbs that together express aspect rather than tense.
2️⃣ Andar a + infinitive
Something is currently happening repeatedly or over a period of time
Now this is where things get interesting.
Andar a + infinitive
does NOT mean “right now” at this exact moment, but it does mean “right now” in the sense of “these days” or “nowadays”.
In other words:
- something happening lately
- something happening repeatedly
- something ongoing over a period of time
- often with a slightly emotional undertone
Structure:
Andar (conjugated) + a + infinitive
Examples:
- Ando a estudar muito.
→ I’ve been studying a lot (these days). - Ele anda a procurar casa.
→ He’s been looking for a house. - Andamos a pensar em mudar de cidade.
→ We’ve been thinking about moving.
Notice the feeling?
It’s not about this exact second.
It’s about a phase, a period, a tendency.
Important Clarification
This structure is not a verb tense. It is what we call a perífrase verbal (a verbal periphrasis).
That means:
Two verbs work together as one unit to express aspect (how an action unfolds in time), while the tense comes from the first verb.
For example:
- Estou a fazer → present
- Estava a fazer → imperfect
The tense changes with estar.
The structure itself expresses the progressive aspect.
The Key Difference
| Estar a fazer | Andar a fazer |
|---|---|
| Happening now | Happening lately / repeatedly |
| Precise moment | Extended period |
| Neutral | Often implies a temporary situation |
Compare:
- Estou a ler.
→ I am reading (right now). - Ando a ler muito.
→ I’ve been reading a lot lately.
See the difference? Subtle — but very Portuguese.
A Nuance English Speakers Miss
Andar literally means “to walk.”
But in this structure, it expresses movement through time – almost like:
“I’ve been going around doing…”
It often suggests:
- something temporary
- something slightly disruptive
- something noticeable
Example:
- Ele anda muito calado.
→ He’s been very quiet lately. (Something’s different.)
There’s often an implied: “and that’s unusual.”
Can They Ever Overlap?
Sometimes yes – but the meaning changes.
- Estou a trabalhar muito.
→ I’m working a lot (right now). - Ando a trabalhar muito.
→ I’ve been working a lot (these days).
Both grammatical. Different time perspective.
Common Learner Mistake
❌ Ando a fazer agora.
(Not natural.)
If it’s about now, use estar, not andar.
How to Internalise This (Instead of Memorising It)
Ask yourself:
Is it happening at this exact moment?
→ Estar
Is it happening during a period of my life?
→ Andar
That’s it.
Why This Matters
Using andar a correctly makes you sound:
- more natural
- more emotionally aware
- less “textbook Portuguese”
And that’s the difference between speaking Portuguese…
…and sounding Portuguese.