están
“están” means “they are” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
they are
Also: you all are
📝 In Action
Mis amigos están en el cine.
A1My friends are at the movie theater.
¿Dónde están mis llaves? No las encuentro.
A1Where are my keys? I can't find them.
Señores, ustedes están en la lista.
A2Gentlemen, you all are on the list.
they are
Also: you all are
📝 In Action
Los niños están cansados después del partido.
A1The children are tired after the game.
Las tiendas están cerradas hoy.
A1The shops are closed today.
Estamos en otoño, así que las hojas están amarillas.
A2It's autumn, so the leaves are yellow.
they are (-ing)
Also: you all are (-ing)
📝 In Action
Mis hermanos están viendo una película.
A2My brothers are watching a movie.
Los chefs están preparando la cena.
A2The chefs are preparing dinner.
¿Qué están haciendo ustedes?
A2What are you all doing?
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: están
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'están' to talk about a location?
📚 More Resources
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin word 'stāre', which means 'to stand'. Over time, its meaning expanded from just standing in a place to being in a place or being in a certain state.
First recorded: Evolved from Vulgar Latin, present in Old Spanish texts.
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why does 'están' have an accent mark?
The accent on 'están' (and 'está', 'estás') is crucial! It tells you where to put the stress when you say the word. It also helps distinguish it from words that look similar but mean different things, like 'esta' which means 'this'.
What's the simplest way to remember when to use 'están' instead of 'son' (from the verb 'ser')?
A great starting point is this little rhyme: 'How you feel and where you are, that is when you use estar.' So, for feelings ('están felices' - they are happy) and location ('están en casa' - they are at home), 'están' is your go-to. For more permanent things like jobs or personality, you'll use 'son'.