estaría
“estaría” means “I would be / he/she/you formal would be” in Spanish (Imaginary or hypothetical situations).
I would be / he/she/you formal would be
Also: probably is/was
📝 In Action
Yo estaría muy contenta si ganara la lotería.
B1I would be very happy if I won the lottery.
Él estaría en casa ahora, pero tuvo que salir.
B1He would be home now, but he had to go out.
Estaría agradecido si pudieras cerrar la puerta.
B1I would be grateful if you could close the door.
¿Dónde está María? — Estaría en la biblioteca.
B1Where's María? — She's probably at the library.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: estaría
Question 1 of 3
Your friend invites you to a party but you're not sure. You want to say 'I would be happy if I could go.' Which is correct?
📚 More Resources
📚 Etymology▼
From Latin *stare* (to stand), which became Spanish *estar*. The conditional '-ía' endings come from adding imperfect verb endings onto the infinitive, a pattern that developed in late Latin to express hypothetical ideas.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'estaría' and 'estaba'?
'Estaría' means 'would be' (hypothetical) or 'probably is' (guess). 'Estaba' means 'was' (past description). Compare: 'Estaría cansado' (He's probably tired - I'm guessing) vs. 'Estaba cansado' (He was tired - I know this).
When should I use 'estaría' vs 'sería'?
The same rules as 'ser' vs 'estar' still apply. Use 'estaría' for temporary states and location: 'Estaría enfermo' (he'd probably be sick). Use 'sería' for permanent traits: 'Sería un buen padre' (he'd be a good father).
Can I use 'estaría' for definite future plans?
No, for definite future use 'estaré' (I will be). 'Estaría' is only for hypothetical or uncertain future: 'Mañana estaré en casa' = definite plan. 'Mañana estaría en casa si no trabajara' = conditional (I'd be home if I didn't work).
Why does 'estaría' sometimes translate to 'probably'?
Spanish uses conditional to show you're making a logical deduction. When you say 'Estaría en la cocina,' you're saying 'he would be in the kitchen' as a reasonable conclusion, which in English we say as 'he's probably in the kitchen.'