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estar

=

to be

verb

Learn more about the differences between ser and estar in the Answers section.

estar
intransitive verb
1. to be (hallarse)
  • ¿dónde está la llave? -> where is the key?
  • ¿está María? — no, no está -> is Maria there? — no, she's not here
2. (con fechas)
  • ¿a qué estamos hoy? -> what's the date today?
  • hoy estamos a martes/a 15 de julio -> today is Tuesday/the 15 of July
  • estábamos en octubre -> it was October
3. to stay, to be (quedarse)
  • estaré un par de horas y me iré -> I'll stay a couple of hours and then I'll go
4. to be ready (hallarse listo)
  • ¿aún no está ese trabajo? -> is that piece of work still not ready?
5. to be
  • estar a ->
  • estamos a veinte grados (expresa valores, grados) -> it's twenty degrees here
  • el dólar está a 10 pesos -> the dollar is at 10 pesos
  • están a dos euros el kilo -> they're two euros a kilo
also:
  • estar en -> to be, to lie in (consistir)
  • el problema está en la fecha -> the problem is the date
also:
  • estar para -> to be (there) for; (servir) to be in the mood for (expresa disposición)
  • para eso están los amigos -> that's what friends are for
  • para eso estoy -> that's what I'm here for
  • no estoy para bromas -> I'm not in the mood for jokes
6. (+ infinitivo)
  • estar por ->
  • eso está aún por escribir (faltar) -> that has yet to be written
  • eso está por ver -> that remains to be seen
7. (+ infinitivo)
  • estar por ->
  • estar por hacer algo (a punto de) -> to be on the verge of doing something
  • estuve por pegarle -> I was on the verge of hitting him
8. (+ infinitivo)
  • estar sin ->
  • estoy sin dormir desde ayer (expresa negación) -> I haven't slept since yesterday
  • está sin acabar -> it's not finished
verb copulativo
9. (+ adjetivo) to be (expresa cualidad, estado)
  • los pasteles están ricos -> the cakes are delicious
  • esta calle está sucia -> this street is dirty
10. (+adverbio)
  • ¡ya está bien! -> that's enough (of that)!
  • este traje te está bien (ropa) -> this suit looks good on you (peninsular Spanish)
11. (+preposición) to be (expresa estado)
  • estar de mudanza -> to be (in the process of) moving
  • estamos de suerte -> we're in luck
  • estar de vacaciones -> to be on holiday
  • estar de viaje -> to be on a trip
  • estar en uso -> to be in use
  • estar en guardia -> to be on guard
  • estamos sin agua -> we have no water, we're without water
12. (+ preposición)
  • estoy contigo -> I'm on your side
  • estar por -> to be in favor of
also:
  • estar de -> to be (expresa ocupación)
  • está de cajera -> she's a checkout girl
13. (+ verbo)
  • estar que ->
  • está que muerde porque ha suspendido (expresa actitud) -> he's furious because he failed
verb auxiliary
14. (+ gerundio) to be (expresa duración)
  • están golpeando la puerta -> they're banging on the door
15. (+ participio) to be
  • está terminado -> it's finished
estarse
pronomial verb
1. to stay (permanecer)
  • te puedes estar con nosotros unos días -> you can stay o spend a few days with us
  • ¡estate quieto! -> keep still!

Copyright © 2006 Chambers Harrap Publishers Limited

estar [es-tar']
verb neuter
1. To be in a place (permanecer). (n)
2. To understand or comprehend (comprensión). (n)
  • Estoy en lo que Vd. me dice -> I understand what you tell me
3. To be in favor of, to answer for (acuerdo). (n)
4. To be of the opinion. (n)
  • Estoy en que -> I am of the opinion that
5. To be: an auxiliary verb, derived from the Latin stare, to stand, and used always with reference to existing or being in a place. (n)
  • Estar escribiendo -> to be writing, 6. To undertake, to oblige or subject oneself to
6. To stand. (n)
7. To cost (precio) 9. (n)
  • En eso está -> in this it consists, on this it depends
8. With the preposition por and the infinitive of some verbs it sometimes means that something is not done, and sometimes that something will be done immediately. (n)
  • Estar po -> or para partir, to be ready to set out
9. With a and some nouns it signifies to be obliged or disposed to execute what the noun signifies. (n)
10. With con and a person's name, to live in company with. (n)
11. To see another in order to treat with him of a matter. (n)
12. With de to be executing a thing or understanding in it, in whatever way. (n)
  • Estar de gaita -> to be merry, in high spirits
  • Estar algo por suceder -> to expect something to happen
  • Estar a erre -> to be doing something with the utmost care
  • Estar alerta -> to be on the watch, to be vigilant
  • Estar bajo de llav -> or cerrado con llave, to be under lock and key
  • Estar de buen humor -> to be in good humor or spirits
  • Estar de mal humor -> to sulk, to be angry
  • Estar de pi -> or en pie; estar levantado or derecho, to stand
  • Estar de prisa -> to be in haste, to haste, to hasten
  • Estar de por medio -> to interpose, to mediate
  • Estar sobre sí -> to be tranquil or serene; to be greatly elated
  • Estar para ello -> to be ready, to be disposed to do anything
  • ¡Dónde estamos -> An expression of admiration or disgust at what we see or hear
  • Estar bien con -> to have regard for a person, to be in concord with him
  • Estar bien una cosa -> to suit, to agree, to fit
  • Estar mal con -> to have a bad opinion of
  • Estar mal -> not to suit, to show bad looks
  • ¿Está Vd.? or Estamos -> Are you aware
  • Estar con el pie en el aire -> to be unsettled
  • Está enfermo -> he is ill
  • Dos vueltas más y ya está -> two more turns and that's it
  • Para las cinco estará terminado -> it will be finished by 5 o'clock
  • Las uvas están a 50 pesos -> grapes are 50 pesos
  • Estar de vacaciones -> to be on vacation
  • Está por llover -> it's about to rain
  • Están sin vender -> they remain unsold, -vr
  • Estarse parado or quieto -> to stand still
With the preposition en, it signifies cause, motive. Have you understood well? To be detained; to stay (quedarse).

Velazquez® Spanish and English Dictionary. Copyright © 2007 by Velazquez® Press. All rights reserved.

Verb Conjugation for "estar"

Infinitive
estar
Gerund
estando
Participle
estado
Presente Pretérito Imperfect Futuro Subjuntivo
Yo estoy estuve estaba estaré esté
Tú estás estuviste estabas estarás estés
Ella/Él/Usted está estuvo estaba estará esté
Nosotros estamos estuvimos estábamos estaremos estemos
Vosotros estáis estuvisteis estabais estaréis estéis
Ellos/Ustedes están estuvieron estaban estarán estén
Complete estar conjugation

"estar" in the Answers forum
Q: ser/estar
A: Here is a video about estar and another about ser [url=http://learnspanish.spanishdict.com/video/video/show'id=1710195%3AVideo%3A1764&context=user]http://learnspanish.spanishdict.com/video/video/show'id=1710195%3AVideo%3A1764&context=user[/url]…
Q: Do you use SER OR ESTAR when saying "I'm Pregnant"''''''''?
A: *I was trying to make a joke with regards the time delay.* And it was a good one. And by the time this thread peters out, the child will be learning to…
Q: ser repleto o estar repleto?
A: No es un slang. Es una alusion literaria a una de las greguerias de Ramon Gomez de la Serna :) Yo se que es algo raro decir. :) ME
Q: Difference Between Ser and Estar & Saber and Conocer''?
A: ser and estar are both verbs meaning "to be" - -however ser is used with personality traits, where you are from, and the time - -EX: Soy interesante y…
Q: estar consciente de ser filipino
A: to be conscious of being Philippine
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