Present of estar

Level 1

Estar also means "to be", mainly for where someone is and how someone feels. Its present forms are estou, estás, está, estamos, estades, están.

How It Works

The forms

  • eu estou (I am)
  • ti estás (you are)
  • el, ela, vostede está (he, she is; you are, formal)
  • nós estamos (we are)
  • vós estades (you all are)
  • eles, elas, vostedes están (they are; you are, formal plural)

Accents. The accent in está is important: esta without an accent means "this" (esta casa, this house). See written accent rules.

What estar is used for.

  • Location of people and things: O pan está na mesa. (The bread is on the table.)
  • Temporary states and feelings: Estou cansa. (I am tired.) Estamos contentos. (We are happy.)
  • How someone is doing: Estou ben, grazas. (I am fine, thanks.)
  • Actions in progress, with a following verb: see estar a + infinitive and estar + gerund.

For identity, origin and lasting traits, use ser instead. See ser vs estar.

Regional note. In some areas people say a short form without es-, like tou or tás. The standard forms always keep the full est-.

Examples (6)

  1. Estou ben, grazas.

    I am fine, thanks.

    Word by Word: I-am well, thanks.

  2. Onde estás?

    Where are you?

    Word by Word: Where you-are?

  3. O pan está na mesa.

    The bread is on the table.

    Word by Word: The bread is on-the table.

    Na is the contraction of en + a.

  4. Estamos moi cansos hoxe.

    We are very tired today.

    Word by Word: We-are very tired today.

  5. Estades preparados?

    Are you all ready?

    Word by Word: You-all-are prepared?

  6. As tendas están pechadas.

    The shops are closed.

    Word by Word: The shops are closed.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the Spanish form estoy.

    Estoy ben.
    Estou ben.

    The Galician "I" form ends in -ou: estou, like vou (I go) and dou (I give).

  • Using the Spanish form estáis for vós.

    Vós estáis cansos?
    Vós estades cansos?

    The vós form of estar is estades, with the -des ending of every vós form.

  • Leaving out the accent on está.

    O libro esta aquí.
    O libro está aquí.

    Esta without an accent means "this". The verb "is" is written está.

How It Connects

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

Present of estarLevel 1

Learn This First

Estar has present forms used for location and states.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.

Words in This Pattern

estar