Meaning and behavior
What does estar mean?
Estar means to be. VerbyGo classifies it as an irregular -AR verb. It is non-reflexive.
to be present; to be (denotes a copula, in a transient fashion).
Build from reliable parts
Principal forms
- Infinitive
- estar
- Gerund
- estando
- Past participle
- estado
Verified irregular pattern
How this verb behaves
Its forms differ from a fully regular -ar pattern in the present, preterite.
Conjugation guide
Present forms
Present forms
Present
Use the present forms of estar for current situations, routines and actions that happen regularly.
| Subject | Estar |
|---|---|
| yo | estoy |
| tú | estás |
| él / ella / usted | está |
| nosotros / nosotras | estamos |
| vosotros / vosotras | estáis |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | están |
Conjugation guide
Past forms
Past forms
Preterite
Use the preterite when the action of estar is presented as completed in the past.
| Subject | Estar |
|---|---|
| yo | estuve |
| tú | estuviste |
| él / ella / usted | estuvo |
| nosotros / nosotras | estuvimos |
| vosotros / vosotras | estuvisteis |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | estuvieron |
Past forms
Imperfect past
Use the imperfect for repeated or ongoing past uses of estar, or for background information.
| Subject | Estar |
|---|---|
| yo | estaba |
| tú | estabas |
| él / ella / usted | estaba |
| nosotros / nosotras | estábamos |
| vosotros / vosotras | estabais |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | estaban |
Conjugation guide
Future and conditional
Future and conditional
Simple future
Use the future forms of estar for predictions, promises and future statements.
| Subject | Estar |
|---|---|
| yo | estaré |
| tú | estarás |
| él / ella / usted | estará |
| nosotros / nosotras | estaremos |
| vosotros / vosotras | estaréis |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | estarán |
Future and conditional
Simple conditional
Use the conditional forms of estar for hypothetical or tactful statements.
| Subject | Estar |
|---|---|
| yo | estaría |
| tú | estarías |
| él / ella / usted | estaría |
| nosotros / nosotras | estaríamos |
| vosotros / vosotras | estaríais |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | estarían |
Conjugation guide
Subjunctive forms
Subjunctive forms
Present subjunctive
Use these forms when a current wish, reaction, doubt or another trigger requires the subjunctive.
| Subject | Estar |
|---|---|
| yo | esté |
| tú | estés |
| él / ella / usted | esté |
| nosotros / nosotras | estemos |
| vosotros / vosotras | estéis |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | estén |
Subjunctive forms
Imperfect subjunctive
Use these forms for past subjunctive contexts and hypothetical structures; the equivalent -se series is also accepted where supplied.
| Subject | Estar |
|---|---|
| yo | estuvieraAlso accepted: estuviese |
| tú | estuvierasAlso accepted: estuvieses |
| él / ella / usted | estuvieraAlso accepted: estuviese |
| nosotros / nosotras | estuviéramosAlso accepted: estuviésemos |
| vosotros / vosotras | estuvieraisAlso accepted: estuvieseis |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | estuvieranAlso accepted: estuviesen |
Conjugation guide
Commands
Commands
Affirmative commands
Choose the affirmative command of estar that matches the person being addressed.
| Subject | Estar |
|---|---|
| tú | está |
| usted | esté |
| nosotros / nosotras | estemos |
| vosotros / vosotras | estad |
| ustedes | estén |
Commands
Negative commands
Use no with the matching command form of estar.
| Subject | Estar |
|---|---|
| tú | no estés |
| usted | no esté |
| nosotros / nosotras | no estemos |
| vosotros / vosotras | no estéis |
| ustedes | no estén |
Verified context
Examples with estar
Él no está en casa.
He's not in.
Tatoeba example · CC BY 2.0 FRÉl ya no está solo.
He isn't alone anymore.
Tatoeba example · CC BY 2.0 FRÉl ya no está aquí.
He is no longer here.
Tatoeba example · CC BY 2.0 FR
Quick answers
Estar FAQ
What does estar mean?
Estar means to be.
Is estar regular or irregular?
Estar is a irregular -AR verb.
What is the gerund of estar?
The gerund of estar is estando.
What is the past participle of estar?
The past participle of estar is estado.
How is estar conjugated in the present?
The verified public subject set is estoy, estás, está, estamos, están.
How is estar conjugated in the preterite?
The verified public subject set is estuve, estuviste, estuvo, estuvimos, estuvieron.
Created by Alejandro Ruiz, an experienced Spanish tutor.