Estar como una cabra

/es-TAR KOH-moh OO-nah KAH-brah/

To be crazy, eccentric, or act in a wild and unpredictable way.

Level:B1Register:InformalCommon:★★★★★

💡 Understanding the Idiom

Literal Translation:

"To be like a goat"

What It Really Means:

To be crazy, eccentric, or act in a wild and unpredictable way.

English Equivalents:

To be nutsTo be crazy as a loonTo have a screw looseTo be off one's rocker

🎨 Literal vs. Figurative

💭 Literal

Literally, this means 'to be like a goat'.

✨ Figurative

The actual meaning of 'estar como una cabra', showing a person doing something wacky and fun at a party.

In reality, it means someone is acting crazy, wild, or endearingly eccentric.

Key Words in This Idiom:

cabra

📝 In Action

Mi abuela se fue a nadar al mar en pleno invierno. ¡Está como una cabra!

My grandmother went swimming in the sea in the middle of winter. She's nuts!

Dejaste tu trabajo para convertirte en payaso de circo... Tienes que estar como una cabra.

You quit your job to become a circus clown... You must be crazy.

No le hagas caso, hoy está como una cabra y no para de decir tonterías.

Don't pay attention to him, he's off his rocker today and won't stop saying silly things.

📜 Origin Story

This saying comes from observing the behavior of goats. They are known for their energetic, unpredictable, and jumpy movements, often leaping around for no apparent reason. Another story suggests it comes from how a mother goat acts when separated from her young kid ('cabrito')—she runs around frantically, bleating and seeming 'crazy' until she finds it. The image of this wild, untamed behavior became a perfect way to describe a person acting in a similar fashion.

⭐ Usage Tips

Affectionate or Critical?

This phrase can be used affectionately for someone who is endearingly eccentric or funny ('Mi amigo está como una cabra, siempre me hace reír'), or it can be used more critically for someone acting genuinely irrationally. Your tone of voice makes all the difference!

Always Use 'Estar'

The expression is always 'ESTAR como una cabra'. You use 'estar' because you're describing a temporary state or a characteristic behavior, not a permanent, defining identity. Using 'ser' would sound very unnatural to a native speaker.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Not for Serious Mental Illness

Mistake: "Using this phrase to describe someone with a diagnosed mental health condition."

Correction: This is a very informal, colloquial term for 'acting crazy' or being eccentric. It's not appropriate for serious discussions about mental health. In those situations, it's better to use more precise and respectful language.

🌎 Where It's Used

🇪🇸

Spain

Extremely common and used by people of all ages. It's a cornerstone of informal, everyday Spanish.

🌎

Latin America

Widely understood in most countries, but often less common than in Spain. Many countries have their own local equivalents, though 'estar loco/a como una cabra' is also frequently heard.

🔗 Related Idioms

↔️Similar Meanings

Faltarle un tornillo

To have a screw loose (literally, 'to be missing a screw').

Estar loco de atar

To be stark raving mad (literally, 'to be mad enough to tie up').

Írsele la olla

To lose one's mind or get distracted (literally, 'for the pot to go away from someone').

⇆Opposite Meanings

Estar en su sano juicio

To be in one's right mind.

Tener la cabeza sobre los hombros

To be sensible and level-headed (literally, 'to have one's head on one's shoulders').

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: Estar como una cabra

Question 1 of 1

If your friend says '¡Estás como una cabra!' after you suggest a wild idea, what do they mean?

🏷️ Tags

AnimalsCommonly UsedEmotionsHumor

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use 'estar como un cabro' for a man?

Yes, absolutely. While 'cabra' (female goat) is the most common form for everyone, you can definitely say 'está como un cabro' to refer specifically to a man. Both are understood perfectly.

Is this idiom offensive?

Generally, no. It's considered a very lighthearted and informal expression. However, like any comment on someone's behavior, the context and your relationship with the person matter. Among friends, it's almost always taken as a joke.