espías
/es-PEE-as/
spies
This illustration shows two spies (espías) secretly observing their surroundings.
📝 In Action
Los espías del gobierno fueron descubiertos.
B1The government spies were discovered.
Necesitamos más espías para esta misión secreta.
A2We need more spies for this secret mission.
💡 Grammar Points
Gender Neutrality
The singular form 'el espía' or 'la espía' is used for both men and women. 'Espías' is simply the plural for any group of spies.
When you spy (espías), you observe something secretly. This image captures the intensity of that action.
espías(verb)
you spy
?Present tense, 'tú' form
you watch secretly
?informal observation
📝 In Action
Si espías a tu vecino, podrías meterte en problemas.
B1If you spy on your neighbor, you could get into trouble.
¿Por qué siempre espías lo que hago en el teléfono?
B1Why do you always spy on what I do on the phone?
💡 Grammar Points
The Accent Mark
The verb 'espiar' (to spy) requires an accent mark on the 'i' in most of the present tense forms (like 'espías') to show that the stress falls there, separating the vowel sounds.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting the Accent
Mistake: "Using *espias* (without the accent)."
Correction: Always write *espías* when conjugating the verb in the 'tú' form to ensure correct pronunciation.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: espías
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'espías' as the action of watching someone (a verb)?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'espías' always plural?
Not always! It is the plural form of the noun 'espía' (spies), but it is also the 'tú' form of the verb 'espiar' (you spy). You must look at the context to know which one it is.
How do I say 'one spy'?
You use the singular form 'espía'. Remember to use 'el' or 'la' depending on the person's gender: 'el espía' (male spy) or 'la espía' (female spy).