Select the Proper Phrase for ‘Are’ in Spanish


After you have the Spanish alphabet and different fundamentals down, you could be keen to start out talking in full sentences. Understanding say “are” in Spanish is an ideal place to start constructing easy sentences, like Eres alto (You’re tall) and Estamos listos (We’re prepared). 

There are a number of other ways to say “are” in Spanish, so memorization alone gained’t be sufficient to make the proper alternative in pure dialog. When native Spanish audio system use “are,” they don’t have to consider which verb to conjugate: ser, estar, tener or haber. By way of genuine language immersion, you’ll be able to develop your instinct and use these verbs as confidently as a local speaker!

Ser for ‘are’ 

The most typical method to say “are” is by conjugating ser in Spanish within the current tense. Use ser (to be) for “are” to speak about everlasting attributes, reminiscent of persona traits, occupations, and bodily traits. 

Which type of ser you select for “are” is dependent upon formality and whether or not you’re talking to at least one particular person or a bunch, as proven by the chart beneath. Yow will discover the extra conjugations of ser, which translate to “am” or “is,” in a complete on-line Spanish dictionary

Topic Pronoun Conjugation of Ser English 
eresyou might be (casual, singular) 
ustedesyou might be (formal, singular) 
nosotros, nosotrassomos we’re
vosotros, vosotrassois you all are (casual, Spain) 
ellos, ellas son they’re 
ustedes son you all are (formal) 

The next examples present how ser is used within the nosotros and ellos types to say “we’re” and “they’re” respectively. For instance: 

  • Nosotras somos enfermeras. = We are nurses. 
  • Timoteo y yo somos mejores amigos. = Timoteo and I are finest mates. 
  • Son estudiantes. = They are college students. 
  • Mis hermanos son bajos. = My siblings are quick. 

Under are some examples of use ser to specific “you might be” in Spanish relying on how many individuals you’re addressing and whether or not you’re speaking to them formally or informally.

  • Eres el mejor, Juan. = You’re one of the best, Juan
  • Señor, ¿Usted es physician? = Sir, are you a health care provider? 
  • ¿De dónde sois? = The place are you all from? 
  • ¿Ustedes son los padres de Carmen? = Are you Carmen’s mother and father? 

Estar for ‘are’

“Are” can also be expressed by conjugating the verb estar. Ser and estar in Spanish each imply “to be” in Spanish, however can’t be used interchangeably to specific “you might be.” Use types of estar to point a short lived bodily or psychological state or a location. 

Right here’s a chart exhibiting estar conjugations to say “are”: 

Topic Pronoun Conjugation of EstarEnglish 
estásyou might be (casual, singular) 
ustedestáyou might be (formal, singular) 
nosotros, nosotrasestamoswe’re
vosotros, vosotrasestáis you all are (casual, Spain) 
ellos, ellas estánthey’re 
ustedes estányou all are (formal) 

Use these types of estar to speak or ask about somebody’s emotions, to explain actions taking place within the second, and extra. For instance: 

  • ¿Cómo están tus padres? = How are your mother and father doing? 
  • Los niños están corriendo en el parque. = The children are working within the park. 
  • No estás preparado para el examen. = You aren’t prepared for the examination. 
  • ¿Dónde está usted? = The place are you?

Tener for ‘are’ 

Though the principle translation of tener is “to have,” this frequent Spanish verb can be used to specific “are” in Spanish. Use tener as an alternative of ser or estar to speak about somebody’s age and in sure tener expressions like tener suerte (to be fortunate) and tener cuidado (to watch out).

Not like common verbs in Spanish, tener doesn’t observe a predictable conjugation sample. It’s a stem-changing verb that requires an e to ie stem change in all types besides nosotros and vosotros.

Listed below are the other ways to say “are” in Spanish utilizing the verb tener

Topic Pronoun Conjugation of EstarEnglish 
tienesyou might be (casual, singular) 
ustedtieneyou might be (formal, singular) 
nosotros, nosotrastenemoswe’re
vosotros, vosotrastenéisyou all are (casual, Spain) 
ellos, ellas tienenthey’re 
ustedes tienenyou all are (formal) 

The next examples exhibit how tener is used for “are” in context: 

  • Tienes 20 años, ¿verdad? = You are 20 years outdated, proper?
  • ¿Tienen hambre? = Are you hungry? 

Haber for ‘are’

Haber, when used to specific existence, is conjugated in just one kind: hay. Hay means “there are” when used with plural Spanish nouns and “there may be” when used with singular nouns. 

Like hola (hi there), hombre (man), hermano (brother), and lots of different necessary Spanish phrases, hay begins with a silent “h,” which means the pronunciation begins with the vowel sound that follows. With TruAccent speech recognition engine, you’ll be able to nail the pronunciation of hay and different “h” phrases each time and confidently say sentences like: 

  • Hay hermosas hojas en los árboles. = There are lovely leaves on the timber. 
  • Hay cinco hombres en la habitación. = There are 5 males within the room. 

Key takeaways for expressing ‘are’ in Spanish 

Translating “are” into Spanish is extra nuanced than easy noun translations like “canine” to perro and “cat” to gato. That will help you get it proper in several conditions, listed below are the important thing factors to recollect:

  • “Are” may be expressed by conjugating ser, estar, tener, or haber within the current tense. Which one you employ is dependent upon the context. 
  • Eres, es, somos, sois, and son are types of ser that translate as “are” when speaking about everlasting attributes of an individual or object. 
  • Estás, está, estamos, estáis, and están are types of estar that imply “are” when discussing a location, situation, or motion in progress. 
  • Tienes, tiene, tenemos, tenéis, and tienen are types of tener that can be utilized to specific are when speaking about somebody’s age and in tener expressions like tener hambre (to be hungry) and tener sed (to be thirsty).  
  • Hay, the impersonal type of haber, expresses the existence of a noun (“there are”). 

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