estás
“estás” means “you are” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
you are
📝 In Action
¿Estás en la oficina?
A1Are you at the office?
Sé que estás aquí, puedo verte.
A1I know you are here, I can see you.
Si estás cerca, ven a saludar.
A2If you are nearby, come say hello.
you are
📝 In Action
¿Cómo estás?
A1How are you?
Estás muy elegante hoy.
A2You look very elegant today.
No pareces feliz. ¿Estás bien?
A1You don't seem happy. Are you okay?
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: estás
Question 1 of 3
Your friend is at the library. How would you ask them 'Are you at the library?'
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin word 'stāre', which means 'to stand'. You can see the connection: 'standing' somewhere is your location, and your 'standing' in life is your current condition.
First recorded: Around the 10th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why is there an accent on 'estás'?
The accent on the 'á' is super important! It tells you where to put the stress when you say the word: es-TÁS. Without it, the stress would fall on the 'es' (ES-tas), which is a different word ('estas' means 'these'). So, the little accent mark changes the whole meaning!
Can I use 'estás' when talking to my boss?
'Estás' is the informal 'you' form (for 'tú'). It's perfect for friends, family, and people your age. For a boss, a stranger, or someone older, it's more polite to use the formal version, 'está' (from 'usted está').
What's the difference between '¿Cómo estás?' and '¿Cómo eres?'
This is a classic question! '¿Cómo estás?' means 'How are you (right now)?' and asks about your mood or health. '¿Cómo eres?' means 'What are you like?' and asks about your personality traits that don't change day-to-day.