Atravesando

Atravesando is the gerund form of the Spanish verb atravesar, meaning to cross or to go through something. It indicates an action that is in progress and can refer to crossing a physical space—such as a street, a river, or a border—or to moving through a figurative obstacle or phase. In narrative and descriptive contexts, atravesando emphasizes the continuity of the action.

In grammar, atravesando is used to form present progressive constructions with estar, or as a participial phrase that describes how an action is being performed. Examples: Estoy atravesando la calle. La caravana está atravesando el puente. In figurative use, it can describe going through a difficult period, as in atravesando una crisis.

Etymology and usage notes: the term derives from the verb atravesar, which is formed with the prefix a- plus the root travers- meaning to cross. The gerund is formed by adding -ando to the stem, yielding atravesando. The word is common in Spanish across dialects and appears in spoken language, journalism, and literature. In more formal writing, some writers may prefer a finite clause rather than a gerund phrase to avoid ambiguity.