Estar: to be
Pronunciation: ehs-TAHR (stress the capital letters)
Estar means “to be” in English.
Quick answer
- Meaning: to be (location, state, feelings)
- How to say it: ehs-TAHR
- Present: yo estoy, tú estás
- Level: Beginner (A1)
What “estar” means and how to use it
Estar is the “to be” verb for location and for temporary states such as moods, health, and results of an action. It is also used to build the progressive (“estoy comiendo”).
How to conjugate “estar”
| Who | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| yo | estoy | I |
| tú | estás | you (informal) |
| él, ella, usted | está | he, she, you (formal) |
| nosotros | estamos | we |
| ellos, ustedes | están | they, you all |
| Past (preterite) | yo estuve, él estuvo | I / he or she |
| Past participle | estado | used with haber |
A closer look at “estar”
When to use estar
Use estar for how and where. Think of the word PLACE: Position, Location, Action (progressive), Condition, Emotion. Examples: Estoy en casa (location). Estamos cansados (condition). Está feliz (emotion). Estoy comiendo (action in progress).
Estar with a gerund
Estar plus a gerund (-ando, -iendo) shows an action in progress: estoy estudiando (I am studying). Do not use ser for this: “soy estudiando” is wrong.
Examples with audio
- Estoy en casa.I am at home.
- ¿Cómo estás?How are you?
- La sopa está caliente.The soup is hot.
Usage tip
Ask “¿Cómo estás?” (how are you), not “¿Cómo eres?”, which asks what someone is like. Location of a place or object always takes estar.
Frequently asked questions
How do you say “to be” in Spanish?
“to be” in Spanish is “estar.” It is pronounced ehs-TAHR, with the stress on the syllable in capital letters.
How do you pronounce “estar”?
Say ehs-TAHR. The syllable in capital letters gets the stress. Press the speaker button at the top of this page to hear it.
What is the past tense of “estar”?
In the preterite, “yo” is “estuve” and “él” is “estuvo.” The past participle is “estado.”
Practice “estar” for free
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Practice Spanish for free with Leo Read the lesson: Ser vs. Estar in Spanish