How to Say "i am" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “i am” is “estoy” — use 'estoy' to describe your current location or a temporary state, feeling, or condition..
estoy
/es-TOY//esˈtoi/
Examples
Estoy en la biblioteca.
I am in the library.
¿Dónde estás? Estoy aquí, en la cocina.
Where are you? I am here, in the kitchen.
Estoy muy feliz hoy.
I am very happy today.
Gracias, estoy bien.
Thank you, I am well.
Estar for Location
Use 'estar' (and forms like 'estoy') to talk about where people or things are located, whether it's for a moment or forever. A helpful rhyme is: 'How you feel and where you are, always use the verb estar'.
Estar for States & Feelings
Use 'estar' to talk about temporary conditions, moods, and feelings. These are things that can change, like being happy, sad, sick, or tired.
Using 'Ser' for Location
Mistake: “Soy en el parque.”
Correction: Estoy en el parque. When you're talking about a location, you almost always need to use 'estar', not 'ser'.
Using 'Ser' for Feelings
Mistake: “Soy cansado.”
Correction: Estoy cansado. 'Ser' is for more permanent traits (like 'soy alto' - I am tall), while 'estar' is for temporary states (like being tired right now).
soy
/soy//soi̯/
Examples
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' 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'.
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.
tengo
/TEN-go//ˈten.ɡo/
Examples
Tengo treinta años.
I am thirty years old.
Tengo mucha hambre.
I am very hungry.
Tengo frío, ¿puedes cerrar la ventana?
I am cold, can you close the window?
Using 'Tener' instead of 'To Be'
This is a key difference from English! For age and many physical feelings like hunger, thirst, or being hot/cold, Spanish says you 'have' the feeling. For example, 'Tengo hambre' literally means 'I have hunger'.
Mistake with Age
Mistake: “Soy treinta años.”
Correction: Tengo treinta años. Always use 'tener' to talk about how old you are. Think of it as counting the years you 'have'.
ando
AHN-doh/ˈan.do/
Examples
Hoy ando un poco triste.
I'm [feeling] a bit sad today.
Ando buscando un regalo para mi mamá.
I'm [busy] looking for a gift for my mom.
Ando vs Estoy
You can use 'ando' instead of 'estoy' to make your sentence feel more dynamic, like you are actively 'going through' that state of being.
Soy vs. Estoy for Identity vs. State
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