State and location (estar)

The verb estar (to be)

Spanish has two verbs for "to be." Use estar to talk about:

  • Locations: Where someone or something is.
  • States: How someone feels or temporary conditions (like being sick, tired, or ready).

Here is how to conjugate estar in the present tense. Notice the accent marks!

PronounVerb form
yoestoy
estás
él, ella, ustedestá
nosotros, nosotrasestamos
ellos, ellas, ustedesestán

Talking about locations

To say where someone or something is, use estar, often followed by en (in, on, at).

I am in the office now.
Yo estoy en la oficina ahora.
The bank is in the city.
El banco está en la ciudad.

Describing states and conditions

Use estar to describe temporary physical or mental states. Remember that adjectives describing states must agree in gender and number with the noun.

The boy is sick.
El niño está enfermo.
You are tired.
Tú estás cansado.
They are ready now.
Ellas están listas ahora.