A friendly person pointing to their chest with a happy expression, representing the concept of 'I am'.

soy

/soy/

VerbA1irregular er

I am?Used for identity, characteristics, origin, profession, etc.

Quick Reference

infinitiveser

gerundsiendo

past Participlesido

📝 In Action

Soy de Argentina.

I am from Argentina.

Soy doctora.

I am a doctor.

Soy una persona muy tranquila.

I am a very calm person.

Soy el hermano de Ana.

I am Ana's brother.

Related Words

Common Collocations

soy de... – I'm from...
soy un/una... – I'm a...
así soy yo – that's how I am

Idioms & Expressions

soy todo oídos – I'm listening intently.

🔄 Conjugations

indicative

present

yosoy

túeres

él/ella/ustedes

nosotrossomos

vosotrossois

ellos/ellas/ustedesson

preterite

yofui

túfuiste

él/ella/ustedfue

nosotrosfuimos

vosotrosfuisteis

ellos/ellas/ustedesfueron

imperfect

yoera

túeras

él/ella/ustedera

nosotroséramos

vosotroserais

ellos/ellas/ustedeseran

subjunctive

present

yosea

túseas

él/ella/ustedsea

nosotrosseamos

vosotrosseáis

ellos/ellas/ustedessean

imperfect

yofuera

túfueras

él/ella/ustedfuera

nosotrosfuéramos

vosotrosfuerais

ellos/ellas/ustedesfueran

View All Tenses & Moods →

💡 Grammar Points

'Soy' vs. 'Estoy': The Two 'To Be's

Use 'soy' for things that are part of your identity and don't change easily. Think of descriptions, jobs, nationality, and relationships. For temporary things like feelings or location, you'll use a different word: 'estoy'.

Leaving out 'Yo'

The word 'soy' can only mean 'I am'. Because of this, you can usually leave out the word 'yo' (I) and people will still know you're talking about yourself. 'Soy feliz' is just as correct as 'Yo soy feliz'.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Using 'Soy' for Location

Mistake: "Soy en la biblioteca."

Correction: Estoy en la biblioteca. Use 'estoy' (from the verb 'estar') to talk about where you are right now.

Using 'Soy' for Feelings

Mistake: "Soy cansado."

Correction: Estoy cansado. Use 'estoy' to talk about how you are feeling at the moment, since feelings can change.

⭐ Usage Tips

Introducing Yourself

'Soy' is perfect for introductions. After saying 'Hola', you can say your name, your job, or where you're from. For example: 'Hola, soy David. Soy programador y soy de Canadá.'

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: soy

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence correctly uses 'soy'?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

ser(to be) - verb

siendo(being) - gerund

sido(been) - past participle

ser(a being) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the simplest way to remember when to use 'soy' versus 'estoy'?

Think of it this way: Use 'soy' for what you ARE (permanent traits like your job, personality, nationality). Use 'estoy' for how you ARE (temporary states like your mood, health, or location). 'Soy doctor' (I am a doctor) is part of my identity. 'Estoy enfermo' (I am sick) is how I am today.

Is 'soy' the same as 'ser'?

'Ser' is the name of the verb, like 'to be' in English. 'Soy' is just one specific form of 'ser'. It means 'I am'. So, you use 'soy' when you're talking about yourself in the present moment.