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Questions & Answers about Mi novio es vegetariano.
Why is it es and not está?
Use ser (here, es) for identities, categories, and defining traits. Being vegetarian is treated as a classification, so Mi novio es vegetariano is correct. Mi novio está vegetariano sounds wrong. For temporary situations, use estar: Mi novio está a dieta or está comiendo menos carne.
Why is there no un before vegetariano?
After ser, Spanish typically omits the indefinite article with professions, religions, ideologies, and similar labels: es vegetariano. You can add un if you treat it as a countable noun or you add a qualifier: Es un vegetariano estricto/convencido. Both Es vegetariano estricto and Es un vegetariano estricto are heard.
How would this change if my partner is female?
Make the nouns and adjectives feminine:
- Mi novia es vegetariana.
- Plural: Mis novios son vegetarianos, Mis novias son vegetarianas.
Is there a gender‑neutral way to say this?
Common, widely accepted option: use pareja (grammatically feminine):
- Mi pareja es vegetariana. Inclusive forms exist in some communities: Mi novie es vegetariane (with pronoun elle), but these are not standard everywhere and are more context‑dependent.
Why does mi have no accent? What’s the difference between mi and mí?
- mi (no accent) = my: Mi novio…
- mí (accent) = me (after a preposition): para mí, de mí. So mí novio is incorrect.
Why is it es (3rd person) and not soy/somos?
Because the subject is third person singular (mi novio = he). Quick present-tense forms of ser:
- yo: soy
- tú: eres
- él/ella/usted: es
- nosotros/as: somos
- ustedes/ellos/ellas: son
Are there other ways to say “boyfriend” in Latin America?
Yes, depending on country/register:
- Widely used: novio
- Gender‑neutral: pareja
- Fiancé/groom: prometido / el novio (at a wedding)
- Regional: enamorado (Peru/Bolivia/Ecuador), pololo (Chile), colloquial flaco (Argentina). Use novio when in doubt.
How do I ask “Is your boyfriend vegetarian?” and answer briefly?
- ¿Tu novio es vegetariano? / ¿Es vegetariano tu novio? Short answers: Sí, lo es. / No, no lo es. That lo stands for the predicate “vegetariano,” not the person.
How do I say “My boyfriend and I are vegetarian”?
- Mixed or at least one male: Mi novio y yo somos vegetarianos.
- Two women: Mi novia y yo somos vegetarianas.
If I say “a vegetarian boyfriend,” where does the adjective go?
Adjectives of classification normally go after the noun:
- un novio vegetariano Placing it before (un vegetariano novio) sounds wrong. Some other adjectives can precede the noun (e.g., mi querido novio).
How do I pronounce Mi novio es vegetariano?
- v sounds like a soft English b.
- g before e is like a throaty h (similar to Spanish j): ve-he-...
- Stress falls on the second‑to‑last syllable of vegetariano: ve-ge-ta-RIA-no. Approximate: “mee NO-byo es beh-he-ta-REEA-no.” Regional accents vary.
How do I negate it?
Put no before the verb:
- Mi novio no es vegetariano. You can also say simply No, no lo es to answer a question.
How do I say “He became vegetarian”?
- Volitional/gradual: Se hizo vegetariano.
- Sudden or notable change: Se volvió vegetariano.
- Transformational/formal: Se convirtió en vegetariano. After that, you still state it with ser: Ahora es vegetariano.
Can I say el mi novio?
No. In modern standard Spanish, possessives replace the article: mi novio. For emphasis or “one of my…,” you can use a postposed possessive:
- el novio mío (emphasis) / un novio mío (one of my boyfriends).
Should vegetariano be capitalized?
No. In Spanish, adjectives like nationalities, religions, and labels such as vegetariano are written in lowercase unless they start a sentence.
How do I say “My boyfriend is vegetarian too/also”?
- Mi novio también es vegetariano. Placing también after the verb is possible but less common here: Mi novio es vegetariano también.
What if I want to talk about him as “a vegetarian” rather than just classify?
Both are possible, with a nuance:
- Classification/identity: Mi novio es vegetariano.
- Treating it as a countable noun or with emphasis/description: Mi novio es un vegetariano estricto/convencido/práctico.