soñando

Soñando is the gerund of the Spanish verb soñar, meaning to dream. It refers to the act of dreaming, whether during sleep or in a figurative sense such as imagining or aspiring to something. In English, soñando translates as dreaming or daydreaming, depending on context.

The gerund forms the present progressive with auxiliary verbs, as in "estoy soñando" (I am dreaming) or "sigue soñando" (he/she keeps dreaming). It can also introduce ideas with the preposition con, as in "soñar con" meaning to dream of/about something, for example "soñar con un futuro mejor." The phrase "andar soñando" can convey being preoccupied with dreams or idle daydreaming.

Etymology and grammar: Soñar comes from Latin somniāre, from somnus, meaning sleep or dream, and reached Spanish through the medieval period. The form soñando follows the regular -ando gerund ending and is non‑stem-changing, used with estar, seguir, ir, and other auxiliary verbs to express aspect.

Usage notes: Soñando is widely used in literature, journalism, and music lyrics to evoke imagination, hope, or surreal imagery. It is not to be confused with sonando, the gerund of sonar (to sound).

In culture and discourse, the concept of soñar often appears in discussions of aspirations, motivation, and psychological imagery, reflecting both literal dreaming and metaphorical ambitions.