estaría
/ehs-tah-REE-ah/
Quick Reference
📝 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.
💡 Grammar Points
When to use the -ía ending
Use '-ía' when talking about imaginary situations. Think of it as 'would' in English: 'Si tuviera tiempo, estaría en casa.' (If I had time, I'd be home.) Spanish needs this special form where English uses 'would.'
Making polite requests softer
Add 'estaría' + adjective to sound more polite. 'Estaría muy agradecido...' (I would be very grateful...) feels softer and more courteous than saying it directly in present tense.
Guessing where things are
When you're not sure, use 'estaría' to guess: '¿Dónde está mi celular? — Estaría en el coche.' (Where's my phone? — Probably in the car.) Spanish uses this form instead of saying 'probably' + present tense.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Don't use present for imaginary situations
Mistake: "Si tengo dinero, estaré feliz."
Correction: Si tuviera dinero, estaría feliz. (If I had money, I'd be happy.) For imaginary 'if' scenarios, always use the '-ía' form, not the future.
Conditional is not for definite plans
Mistake: "Mañana estaría en el trabajo."
Correction: Mañana estaré en el trabajo. (Tomorrow I'll be at work.) Use '-é' for definite future, '-ía' only for hypothetical or uncertain situations.
⭐ Usage Tips
Listen for the sound pattern
All conditional forms rhyme: '-ía', '-ías', '-ía', '-íamos', '-íais', '-ían'. When you hear this pattern, you know the conversation is about hypothetical or polite situations.
Perfect partner: 'si' + past imperfect
Learn this common pair: 'Si estuvieras aquí, estaría feliz.' (If you were here, I'd be happy.) The 'si' clause uses a past form, the main clause uses '-ía.'
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
preterite
imperfect
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
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.'