Why Correr Is More Than "To Run"
Correr is the everyday verb for running, and it is regular. But Spanish also uses it for time, danger, money and rumors: things that "run" through life. These are the chunks you will hear much more often than a marathon.
Learn the six chunks below and you will understand them in conversation and in the news.
Pattern 1: Salir a correr — "To go for a run"
The chunk for exercise: use salir a or ir a plus correr. For salir, see [Salir] Chunks.
- Salgo a correr por las mañanas. — I go for a run in the mornings.
- Quiero correr un maratón. — I want to run a marathon.
- ¿Vienes a correr conmigo? — Are you coming running with me?
Chunk to learn:
Salir a correr / Ir a correr / Correr un maratón
Pattern 2: ¡Corre! — "Hurry!"
Spanish uses the command to tell someone to hurry, even when no one is literally running. Add corriendo after a verb of movement for "in a hurry," and a todo correr for full speed. For missing the bus, see [Perder] Chunks.
- ¡Corre, que perdemos el bus! — Hurry, we're going to miss the bus!
- Vino corriendo a decírmelo. — He came running to tell me.
- Salió a todo correr. — She left at full speed.
Chunk to learn:
¡Corre! / [Ir / Venir / Salir] corriendo / A todo correr
Pattern 3: No corre prisa — "There's no rush"
Time "runs" with urgency. No corre prisa says it can wait, and ¿corre prisa? asks whether it is urgent. It sounds slightly formal; no hay prisa is the everyday alternative.
- No corre prisa, hazlo mañana. — There's no rush, do it tomorrow.
- ¿Corre prisa el informe? — Is the report urgent?
- No nos corre prisa. — We're in no hurry.
Chunk to learn:
(No) correr prisa / No hay prisa
Pattern 4: Correr el riesgo — "To run the risk"
The same image as English: you run into danger. Use el riesgo de plus an infinitive, or correr peligro. For being careful, see [Cuidar] Chunks.
- Corres el riesgo de perder el vuelo. — You run the risk of missing the flight.
- No quiero correr riesgos. — I don't want to take risks.
- Corrimos peligro en la carretera. — We were in danger on the road.
Chunk to learn:
Correr el riesgo de + [infinitivo] / Correr peligro
Pattern 5: Corre de mi cuenta — "It's on me"
Costs "run" to whoever pays. Corre de mi cuenta is how you offer to pay, and correr con los gastos says who covers the bill. For paying, see [Pagar] Chunks; for cuenta, see [Contar] Chunks.
- La cena corre de mi cuenta. — Dinner is on me.
- Yo corro con los gastos. — I'll cover the expenses.
- Los gastos corren por cuenta de la empresa. — The company covers the costs.
Chunk to learn:
Correr de / por cuenta de + [persona] / Correr con los gastos
Pattern 6: Correr la voz — "To spread the word"
News and rumors "run" through a town. Use it to ask people to pass the message on, or to say that something got around. For telling people, see [Decir] Chunks.
- Corrió la voz de que se casaban. — Word got around that they were getting married.
- Que corra la voz: hay fiesta el sábado. — Spread the word: there's a party on Saturday.
- Corrió el rumor por todo el pueblo. — The rumor spread through the whole town.
Chunk to learn:
Correr la voz / Correr el rumor / Que corra la voz
Correr vs. Andar
Correr is to run, for people and also for time, money and news. Andar is to walk or to be around; see [Andar] Chunks. Corro mucho says you run a lot; ando mucho says you walk or move around a lot. When in a hurry, the verb is correr.
Start with ¡corre! and corre de mi cuenta. You will use both within a week of living with Spanish speakers.
This post is part of the Spanish Chunk Series — a growing collection of chunk patterns for natural Spanish.