estar de + Noun

Estar De for Temporary Situations

Level 3

Estar de + noun describes a temporary situation or role, as in Estamos de vacacións (We are on holiday) and Está de camareiro este verán (He is working as a waiter this summer).

How It Works

Situations: estar de vacacións (on holiday), de viaxe (away on a trip), de garda (on duty), de loito (in mourning).

Moods and attitudes: estar de bo humor (in a good mood), de mal humor (in a bad mood), de broma (joking).

Body positions: estar de pé (standing), estar de xeonllos (kneeling).

Temporary roles: Está de camareiro este verán, Está de profesora en Lugo este curso (She is teaching in Lugo this school year).

Other set phrases: estar de moda (to be in fashion), estar de parte de (to be on someone's side), estar de máis (to be unnecessary).

Not ser de: ser + de gives origin, material or owner: É de Vigo (She is from Vigo), É de madeira (It is made of wood). A temporary situation always takes estar: Está de vacacións, never É de vacacións.

Examples (6)

  1. Estamos de vacacións.

    We are on holiday.

    Word by Word: Are-we of holidays.

  2. Está de camareiro este verán.

    He is working as a waiter this summer.

    Word by Word: Is of waiter this summer.

    A temporary job, not his permanent profession.

  3. O meu pai está de viaxe ata o luns.

    My father is away on a trip until Monday.

    Word by Word: The my father is of trip until the Monday.

  4. Hoxe estou de bo humor.

    I am in a good mood today.

    Word by Word: Today am-I of good humour.

  5. Estás de broma?

    Are you joking?

    Word by Word: Are-you of joke?

  6. Estivemos dúas horas de pé.

    We were standing for two hours.

    Word by Word: Were-we two hours of foot.

Common Mistakes

  • Using ser for a temporary situation.

    Os meus pais son de vacacións.
    Os meus pais están de vacacións.

    Ser + de gives origin or material. A temporary situation needs estar de.

  • Using estar de for a permanent profession.

    A miña nai está de médica.
    A miña nai é médica.

    The intended meaning is that medicine is her profession. Está de médica would present it as a temporary role, such as covering a post for a while. Use ser for someone's profession.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

estar de + NounLevel 3Estar De for Temporary Situations

Learn This First

Estar de introduces a temporary situation or role.

Words in This Pattern

estar