You're standing in a busy plaza in Madrid or maybe just trying to survive a high school Spanish quiz, and you hear it: están. It pops up everywhere. In songs. In movies. In your Uber driver’s quick phone call. But if you’ve ever looked at a Spanish verb chart and felt your soul slowly leave your body, you aren't alone. Spanish verbs are notoriously fickle. One minute you're talking about a cat, and the next, you've accidentally used the wrong "to be" and now you're implying the cat is fundamentally a different creature than it was five seconds ago.
Basically, están is a specific form of the verb estar. In English, we have "to be." It's simple. "They are happy." "The keys are on the table." We use "are" for everything. Spanish is more dramatic. It splits "to be" into two main camps: ser and estar.
Think of están as the "right now" or "right here" version of "they are" or "you all are." It’s not about who they are deep down in their DNA; it’s about where they are or how they’re doing at this exact moment.
The Absolute Basics of Están
So, what does están mean in Spanish?
At its most literal, it translates to "they are" or "you all (ustedes) are." It comes from the verb estar. If you want to get technical, it’s the third-person plural present indicative. But honestly, nobody talks like that in real life. You just need to know it deals with things that change.
If you say Ellos están cansados, you're saying "They are tired." It’s a state. They weren’t born tired (well, maybe some teenagers were), and they won’t be tired forever. They just need a nap. If you used the other "are" (son from the verb ser), you’d be saying being tired is a permanent personality trait. People would look at you weird.
It’s also about location. ¿Dónde están mis llaves? Where are my keys? Your keys aren't "location" by nature; they are just currently existing in the crack of the sofa.
Why We Use Están Instead of Son
This is where people trip up. Spanish learners spend months—sometimes years—battling the ser vs. estar divide.
Professional linguists and educators like those at the Cervantes Institute often use the acronym PLACE to help students remember when to grab estar.
- Position: The book is on the floor. (El libro está en el suelo.)
- Location: We are at the party. (Estamos en la fiesta.)
- Action: They are running. (Están corriendo.)
- Condition: The coffee is cold. (El café está frío.)
- Emotion: They are angry. (Están enojados.)
Notice a pattern? These are mostly temporary.
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If you’re talking about a group of people—let's say your cousins—and you say Ellos son aburridos, you’re being mean. You’re saying they are boring people. Their souls are boring. But if you say Ellos están aburridos, you’re just saying they’re bored right now. Maybe the movie sucks. There’s a massive difference.
The "Ustedes" Factor
In Latin America, están does double duty.
Spanish has two ways to say "you all." There’s vosotros (used mostly in Spain) and ustedes (used everywhere else). If you’re in Mexico City, Bogotá, or Miami, you’ll use están whenever you’re talking to a group of people directly.
"How are you guys?" becomes ¿Cómo están? In Spain, they might say ¿Cómo estáis? using the vosotros form. But for the vast majority of the Spanish-speaking world, están is your go-to for addressing a crowd. It’s polite, it’s standard, and it’s safe.
Using Están with Actions (The -ing Form)
One of the coolest things about están is how it builds sentences.
In English, we use "are" with "-ing" verbs. "They are eating." "They are dancing." Spanish does the exact same thing with están and the gerund (verbs ending in -ando or -iendo).
- Están comiendo tacos. (They are eating tacos.)
- Están durmiendo. (They are sleeping.)
- Están trabajando mucho. (They are working a lot.)
If you see están followed by a word ending in -ando, someone is doing something right this second. It’s the "Present Progressive." It’s one of the easiest ways to start sounding fluent because the structure mirrors English so closely.
The Nuance of Health
Health is a tricky one. We usually think of health as a condition, which means we use estar.
Ellos están enfermos. (They are sick.)
Even if someone has a long-term illness, Spanish speakers almost always stick with estar. It suggests a state of being rather than a defining characteristic. Using son here would sound like you're saying their entire identity is "sick," which is pretty heavy.
Common Mistakes That Make Locals Cringe
Native speakers are generally patient. They know Spanish is hard. But some mistakes with están change the meaning so much it causes genuine confusion.
Take the word bueno.
If you say Ellos son buenos, you’re saying "They are good people." They have high morals. They rescue kittens.
If you say Ellos están buenos, you’re saying "They are attractive." You’re commenting on their looks. It’s a very different vibe.
Similarly, están listos means "they are ready." Son listos means "they are smart." Use the wrong one at a business meeting and you might accidentally call your coworkers "ready" instead of "intelligent." Not the end of the world, but not quite the compliment you intended.
Where You’ll Hear It Most
Language isn't just a set of rules; it's a living thing. If you're traveling, you'll hear están in specific contexts more than others.
- In Restaurants: ¿Están listos para pedir? (Are you all ready to order?)
- On the Street: Los taxis están allá. (The taxis are over there.)
- In Social Settings: ¿Cómo están todos? (How is everyone?)
- Weather (Sometimes): While weather usually uses hace (like hace sol), you’ll hear está nublado (it is cloudy). If there are multiple things, like "the days are cloudy," you’d get Los días están nublados.
It’s a utility word. A Swiss Army knife.
Regional Flavour
Language isn't a monolith.
In some Caribbean accents—think Puerto Rico, Cuba, or the Dominican Republic—the "s" in están often gets "aspirated." It sounds more like an "h" or disappears entirely. You might hear ¿Cómo etán? Don’t let that throw you. It’s the same word, just wearing a different outfit.
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Also, in parts of Argentina and Uruguay, the rhythm of the sentence might change, but the grammar remains the rock-solid foundation. Whether you’re in a high-rise in Madrid or a beach in Cartagena, están remains the plural "are" for states and locations.
The Difference Between Está and Están
It seems obvious, but it’s worth a quick mention. Está is for one person or thing (he, she, it, or the formal "you"). Están is for more than one.
- Juan está feliz. (Juan is happy.)
- Juan y María están felices. (Juan and Maria are happy.)
Notice that the adjective felices also changes to plural to match están. Spanish loves harmony. If the verb is plural, the description usually has to be plural too.
How to Practice Without Looking Like a Robot
Stop memorizing tables. Seriously.
Start looking at the world in "states" versus "traits." When you see a group of people, ask yourself: Are they currently doing something? Are they currently somewhere? That’s an están moment.
If you’re watching a show on Netflix in Spanish, keep an ear out for it. You’ll notice it’s rarely used to describe what someone is (their job, their nationality, their name). It’s almost always about the vibe of the moment.
Summary of Actionable Steps
Learning a language is about momentum, not perfection. If you want to master están, do these three things this week:
- Label your environment mentally. Look at your coworkers. Don't think "they are in the office." Think están en la oficina. Look at your cats. Están durmiendo.
- Practice the "Ready vs. Smart" distinction. It’s the easiest way to remember the ser vs. estar rule. Are they listos (ready) or listos (smart)?
- Listen for the "-ando". Next time you hear a Spanish song, listen for están followed by that "ando" or "iendo" sound. It will help your brain map the "are doing" structure naturally.
Ultimately, están is just a bridge. It connects people to their locations, their moods, and their actions. Use it when things are moving, changing, or just sitting in a specific spot. You'll get the hang of it faster than you think.