Inklingo
A group of four diverse children standing together, linked arm-in-arm, smiling brightly to symbolize unity and shared identity.

somos

SOH-mohs

VerbA1irregular er
we are?Used for identity, characteristics, origin, time, etc.

Quick Reference

infinitiveser
gerundsiendo
past Participlesido

📝 In Action

Nosotros somos estudiantes.

A1

We are students.

Somos de México.

A1

We are from Mexico.

Somos altos y amables.

A1

We are tall and kind.

¡Somos los campeones!

A2

We are the champions!

Word Connections

Common Collocations

  • somos amigoswe are friends
  • somos familiawe are family
  • somos un equipowe are a team

Idioms & Expressions

  • somos uña y carneWe are very close friends, inseparable.

💡 Grammar Points

Who 'We' Are: Using 'Somos'

'Somos' comes from the verb 'ser' and is how you say 'we are'. You use it for things that are part of an identity, like your job, nationality, or personality.

Ser vs. Estar: The Big Question

'Somos' is for what you are (identity, characteristics). Use 'estamos' (from the verb 'estar') for how or where you are (feelings, location). For example: 'Somos amigos' (We are friends) vs. 'Estamos en casa' (We are at home).

❌ Common Pitfalls

Using 'Somos' for Location

Mistake: "A common mix-up is saying 'Somos en la biblioteca.'"

Correction: The correct way is 'Estamos en la biblioteca.' Remember, 'estar' is for location—think 'where we are right now'.

⭐ Usage Tips

You Can Often Drop 'Nosotros'

Because 'somos' can only mean 'we are', you often don't need to say 'nosotros' (we) before it. 'Somos felices' sounds more natural to most speakers than 'Nosotros somos felices'.

🔄 Conjugations

indicative

present

él/ella/ustedes
yosoy
eres
ellos/ellas/ustedesson
nosotrossomos
vosotrossois

imperfect

él/ella/ustedera
yoera
eras
ellos/ellas/ustedeseran
nosotroséramos
vosotroserais

preterite

él/ella/ustedfue
yofui
fuiste
ellos/ellas/ustedesfueron
nosotrosfuimos
vosotrosfuisteis

subjunctive

present

él/ella/ustedsea
yosea
seas
ellos/ellas/ustedessean
nosotrosseamos
vosotrosseáis

imperfect

él/ella/ustedfuera o fuese
yofuera o fuese
fueras o fueses
ellos/ellas/ustedesfueran o fuesen
nosotrosfuéramos o fuésemos
vosotrosfuerais o fueseis

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: somos

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence correctly uses 'somos'?

📚 More Resources

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are there two forms for 'we are' in Spanish ('somos' and 'estamos')?

Great question! Spanish splits the job of English's 'to be' into two verbs. 'Ser' (where 'somos' comes from) is for permanent things or what something *is* (identity, origin, profession). 'Estar' (where 'estamos' comes from) is for temporary things or *how* something is (location, mood, condition). It's tricky at first, but it allows for more specific meaning!

Is 'somos' always for 'we'?

Yes, always. In Spanish, the verb ending tells you who is doing the action. The '-mos' ending on 'somos' is the specific signal for 'nosotros' (we). That's why you can often leave 'nosotros' out of the sentence.