"estoy jubilado" or "soy jubilado"?

Question

My phrasebook tells me estoy jubilado = I am retired, but I thought el verbo estar was for only for temporary characteristics and locations. Would not one say "soy jubilado" instead? As being retired is usually permanent.

Answer 1

ser/estar

According to the CID rule presented in the article above Ser would be used to classify/identify/define you as ""un jubilado".

Here is another article, however, that discusses jubilado specifically. It also agrees with using Ser to define you as a jubilado, but states that the use of estar with jubilado is quite common. It does not address whether that usage is correct or incorrect or the reasoning for using estar, but it does say that it is a common usage.

jubilado

according to this link, ser is used to say that I am a retiree (noun), but estar is used to say that I am retired (adjective).

retiree

Conclusion: both soy jubilado and estoy jubilado are correct given proper context.

That clears things up, great answer thanks. - Hamfist, Aug 26, 2009

Answer 2

Estar is used with death, as in Spain it is considered ongoing so I guess it should also be used for retirement as this is the predesesor to the former, just a thought. Ken.

Answer 3

My phrasebook tells me estoy jubilado = I am retired, but I thought el verbo estar was for only for temporary characteristics and locations.

No, "estar" is not used for temporary locations. "Nueva York está en los Estados Unidos" is not a temporary location, and "Napoleón is dead" is not temporary either.

You can use both verbs here, but "ser" is used specially when filling forms or other formal situations where you are to be "classified" according to certain criteria. In spoken Spanish, I believe that "estar" is more used, as it describes your personal circumstances, and maybe some people don't want to be defined by or for their "retiredness".

I already mentioned in my little article that marital status can be expressed with either verb, but married and single are used more with "estar". I guess I should have included "jubilado", "viuda",...

Answer 4

las dos formas con correctas...... soy un jubilado o estoy jubilado

Answer 5

Hi Hamfist, welcome

Please read the excellent article on ser y estar Quentin has included.

Thanks :) - Hamfist, Aug 26, 2009