Estar Conjugation: Present, Preterite, Imperfect
estar — to be (state, location, feelings)
Estar covers everything temporary: how you feel, where you are, what's happening right now. Its preterite (estuve) is irregular in a predictable way — the stem shifts to estuv-. Learn the three conversational tenses and say them out loud.
Quick answer
Yo estoy.
I am. (right now / here)
Present "yo" form. Full present: estoy, estás, está, estamos, estáis, están. Preterite: estuve, estuviste, estuvo, estuvimos, estuvisteis, estuvieron.
estar — Present
Current state, feelings, location: 'Estoy cansado' — I am tired. 'Estamos en Madrid' — we are in Madrid.
| Pronoun | Spanish form |
|---|---|
| yo | estoy |
| tú | estás |
| él / ella / usted | está |
| nosotros | estamos |
| vosotros | estáis |
| ellos / ustedes | están |
estar — Preterite (past, completed)
A completed state: 'Estuve enfermo ayer' — I was sick yesterday.
| Pronoun | Spanish form |
|---|---|
| yo | estuve |
| tú | estuviste |
| él / ella / usted | estuvo |
| nosotros | estuvimos |
| vosotros | estuvisteis |
| ellos / ustedes | estuvieron |
estar — Imperfect (past, ongoing)
Ongoing background state: 'Estaba en casa' — I was (at) home.
| Pronoun | Spanish form |
|---|---|
| yo | estaba |
| tú | estabas |
| él / ella / usted | estaba |
| nosotros | estábamos |
| vosotros | estabais |
| ellos / ustedes | estaban |
Ser vs estar in one line
Ser is what something IS (identity: es grande — it is big). Estar is how something IS right now (está roto — it is broken). If it can change by tonight, use estar.
Example sentences
¿Cómo estás?
How are you?
KOH-moh ehs-TAHS
Estuve en Barcelona el mes pasado.
I was in Barcelona last month.
ehs-TOO-beh ehn bahr-theh-LOH-nah ehl mehs pah-SAH-doh
Estábamos muy cansados.
We were very tired.
ehs-TAH-bah-mohs mwee kah-SAH-dohs
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More Spanish verb conjugations
ser — to be (identity, essence, permanent traits)
Yo soy. · Present / Preterite / Imperfect
tener — to have
Yo tengo. · Present / Preterite / Imperfect
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Yo voy. · Present / Preterite / Imperfect
hacer — to do, to make
Yo hago. · Present / Preterite / Imperfect
decir — to say, to tell
Yo digo. · Present / Preterite / Imperfect
poder — to be able to, can
Yo puedo. · Present / Preterite / Imperfect
querer — to want; to love (people)
Yo quiero. · Present / Preterite / Imperfect
haber — to have (auxiliary); there is/are
Hay. · Present / Preterite / Imperfect