Estar Expressions

Being Spanish Expressions

Estar - Spanish verb
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Estar is one of two Spanish verbs that mean "to be" (learn more), and is used in a number of common expressions. Learn how to say cost, stand by the result, have the flu, and more with this list of expressions with estar.

Estar translations

  • to be
  • to be at home
  • to be in
  • to be ready

Estar in grammatical constructions

Estar plus the gerund creates progressive tenses. For example, estar in the present tense + gerund = present progressive: to be doing.

Estar expressions

estar + past participle
estar terminado
  to be ___ed
to be finished
estar a   to sell for, to cost
estar a + fecha   to be + date
estar a lo que resulte   to stand by the result
estar a sus anchas   to be comfortable
estar calado hasta los huesos   to be soaking wet
estar claro   to be clear
estar como el pez en el agua   to be right at home
estar con el alma en vilo   to be in suspense
estar con el alma en un hilo   to be in suspense
estar con la gripe   to have the flu
estar con una enfermedad   to suffer from an illness/disease
estar de + profession   to be working as a ___ (temporarily)
estar de jefe   to be the acting head
estar de más   to be in excess
estar de pie   to be standing
estar de sobra   to be in excess
estar de uniforme   to be in uniform
estar de vacaciones   to be on vacation
estar de viaje   to be traveling
estar despejado   to be clear
estar en   to be the cause of
estar en algo   to be involved in something
estar en condiciones   to be in good shape
estar en la luna   to have one's head in the clouds
estar en las nubes   to be daydreaming
estar en que   to believe / be sure that
estar enfermo   to be sick
estar fuera   to be out/away
estar fuera de sí   to be beside oneself (with joy, anger…)
estar hecho polvo   to et worn out
estar hecho una fiera   to get extremely angry
estar hecho una sopa   to get soaked
estar jamado hasta los huesos   to be soaking wet
estar listo   to be ready
estar loco de atar/remate   to be completely crazy
estar más viejo   to look older
estar nublado   to be cloudy
estar para + infinitive   to be about to, be on the verge of
estar para + noun   to be in the mood for
estar por   to back, be in favor of
estar por + infinitive   to be inclined to, have half a mind to
estar que rabia   to be furious
estar sin blanca   to be flat broke
estar sin vender   to be unsold
estar vacio   to be empty
no estar en sí   to not be in one's right mind
    
¿Cómo está(s)?   How are you?
¿Cómo estamos?   How do we stand? What's the score?
El problema está en que…   The problem lies in the fact that…
En eso está   That is / must be the reason.
En ello estamos   We're doing all we can.
Está por llover. (LatAm)   It's about to rain.
Está todavía por hacer.   It still needs to be done.
¿Está Ud.?   Understand?
¿Estamos?   Agreed?
Estoy así de nervioso   I'm so nervous
No está en el hacerlo.   It's not in his power to do it.
Para eso estamos   That's why we're here; It's the least we can do
Ya estoy   I'm ready
¡Ya estamos!   That's it! That's enough!
    
estarse   to stay, remain
estarse + gerund   to be gradually/slowly doing something

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Expressions with estar

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