“Soy” and “estoy” are both first-person present tense conjugations of verbs meaning ‘to be.’. That is to say, they both mean ‘I am.’ “Soy” is used when you’re talking about permanent, unchanging or rarely changing things. “Estoy” is used when you’re talking about things that do vary regularly.
“Estoy” comes from the Latin word “stare,” meaning “to stand,” which evolved into the Spanish verb “estar.” This etymological connection helps explain why “estoy” often relates to temporary states and positions rather than permanent characteristics.
Conjugate the Spanish verb estoy: preterite, future, participle, present. See Spanish conjugation rules. Translate estoy in context, with examples of use and definition.
‘Soy’ is the first person present of the verb ‘ser‘ (used to talk about permanent qualities) and ‘estoy‘ is the first person present of ‘estar‘ (used to talk about a temporary condition).
Knowing when to use soy vs. estoy can be a tricky proposition for Spanish learners. Both verbs translate to “I am,” but they’re used in distinct situations. Soy is used to express stable qualities that tend not to change, while estoy implies that a particular state or condition is temporary.
Look up the Spanish to English translation of ESTOY in the PONS online dictionary. Includes free vocabulary trainer, verb tables and pronunciation function.
Understand the exact meaning of "estoy" and learn how to use it correctly in any context. Examples come from millions of authentic texts: movie dialogues, news articles, official documents, and more. Hear how "estoy" is pronounced by native speakers and improve your oral skills.
Master Ser vs. Estar with our interactive video lessons. Learn when to use "soy" and "estoy" in this article.