1. Spanish Subject Pronouns
Before we can look at verbs, we need to know how to identify who is performing the action
| Singular Pronoun | Meaning | Plural Pronoun | Meaning |
| yo | I | nosotros | we |
| tú | you (familiar) | vosotros | you (familiar, plural) |
| él | he | ellos | they (masculine/mixed) |
| ella | she | ellas | they (feminine only) |
| usted (Ud.) | you (formal) | ustedes (Uds.) | you (plural) |
Key Pronoun Secrets Every Learner Should Know:
The "You" Dilemma (Tú vs. Usted): Use tú with friends, family, and people your own age
. Use usted (abbreviated as Ud.) to show respect, in business settings, or when meeting someone for the first time . The Plural "You" (Vosotros vs. Ustedes): Vosotros is the familiar plural "you" (like "you all" or "y'all"), but it is only used in Spain
. In Latin America, speakers use ustedes (abbreviated as Uds.) for all plural "you" situations, whether formal or casual . The Rules of "They": If you are talking about a group of all men, or a mixed group of men and women, use ellos
. If the group consists only of females, use ellas . What about "It"? There is no subject pronoun for "it" in Spanish
. While él and ella can occasionally refer to animals, they never refer to inanimate objects or things .
2. Understanding Verb Basics
Before we conjugate, let's look at two essential linguistic definitions to keep things clear
The Infinitive: The raw, unconjugated form of a verb (in English, this always includes the word "to", like to be)
. The Conjugation: Changing the verb's form so it aligns with a specific pronoun or subject (e.g., changing to be into I am or he is)
.
3. The Verb Estar (To Be)
Spanish actually has two completely different verbs that mean "to be." Today, we are learning the first one: estar
Here is how you conjugate it
| Subject Pronoun | Conjugated Form | English Meaning |
| yo | estoy | I am |
| tú | estás | you are (familiar) |
| él / ella / Ud. | está | he / she is, you are (formal) |
| nosotros | estamos | we are |
| vosotros | estáis | you all are (familiar - Spain) |
| ellos / ellas / Uds. | están | they are, you all are |
💡 Pro-Tip: Notice how él, ella, and Ud. share the exact same verb form (está), and ellos, ellas, and Uds. share están
4. When to Use Estar
The verb estar isn't used for everything
A. Location
Use estar to describe where someone or something is physically located
Yo estoy en la clase. — I am in the class.
Nosotros estamos en el carro. — We are in the car.
El restaurante está en la ciudad. — The restaurant is in the city.
Ellas están en el baño. — They are in the bathroom.
¿Estás tú en el hospital? — Are you in the hospital?
B. Health
Use estar to say how someone is feeling physically
Yo estoy bien, gracias. — I am fine, thanks.
Ella está enferma. — She is sick.
Los doctores están enfermos. — The doctors are sick.
¿Cómo están Uds.? — How are you? (Plural)
Estamos bien. — We are well.
C. Changing Mood or Condition
Use estar to highlight emotional states or temporary conditions that can change
La muchacha está contenta. — The girl is happy.
Estoy feliz. — I am happy.
Los hombres están cansados. — The men are tired.
Estamos alegres. — We are happy.
¿Estás enojado? — Are you angry?
D. Personal Opinion (Taste or Appearance)
When used with food, estar means something "tastes" a certain way
La comida está buena. — The meal is (tastes) good.
El pescado está delicioso. — The fish is (tastes) delicious.
La sopa está sabrosa. — The soup is (tastes) delicious.
Ella está hermosa hoy. — She is (looks) pretty today.
Él está guapo. — He is (looks) handsome.
💡 Quick Linguistic Notes for Beginners
The Invisible Pronoun Trick
You might have noticed sentences above like "Estamos bien" or "Estoy feliz" that completely leave out the words nosotros or yo
Good News About Word Order
As you begin structuring full sentences, you'll be happy to know that basic Spanish sentences follow the exact same Subject + Verb + Object word order as English
Ready for a quick challenge? Try translating your own location or mood using estar in the comments section below!