How to Say "I Am" in Spanish

In this presentation I show the two expressions used in Spanish to say "I am". Soy, to be used in situations or ways of being more permanently; and Estoy, to be used in situations that are more temporary.

1. How to say “I am” in Spanish Soy Estoy

2. After finding out that even when “ tengo sed ” means “I’m thirsty”, “ tengo ” doesn’t mean “I am”, now the next question would be: Then, how do you say “I am” in Spanish?

3. After finding out that even when “ tengo sed ” means “I’m thirsty”, “ tengo ” doesn’t mean “I am”, now the next question would be: Then, how do you say “I am” in Spanish? This is when things get a little more complicated, because there are two ways of saying “I am” in Spanish:

4. After finding out that even when “ tengo sed ” means “I’m thirsty”, “ tengo ” doesn’t mean “I am”, now the next question would be: Then, how do you say “I am” in Spanish? This is when things get a little more complicated, because there are two ways of saying “I am” in Spanish: When I am something, or someone in a more permanent way, or When I am something in a temporary way.

5. “I am” in a more permanent way: Things that are not going to change easily. Soy un hombre, soy una mujer . I am a man, I am a woman.

6. “I am” in a more permanent way: Things that are not going to change easily. Soy un niño , soy una niña . I am a boy, I am a girl.

7. “I am” in a more permanent way: Things that are not going to change easily. Soy inteligente . I am intelligent.

8. “I am” in a more permanent way: Things that are not going to change easily. Soy guapo . I am handsome.

9. “I am” in a more permanent way: Things that are not going to change easily. Soy bonita . I am pretty.

10. “I am” in a more permanent way: Things that are not going to change easily. Soy estudioso (a) y trabajador (a). I am studious (hard studying) and hard working.

11. “I am” in a more permanent way: Things that are not going to change easily. Soy un h éroe , soy una heroína. I am a hero , I am a heroine .

12. “I am” in a more permanent way: Things that are not going to change easily. Soy humilde y modesto(a). I am humble and unpretentious .

13. “I am” in a more permanent way: Things that are not going to change easily. Soy un hombre, soy una mujer . Soy un niño , soy una niña . Soy inteligente . Soy guapo . Soy bonita . Soy estudioso (a) y trabajador (a). Soy un h éroe , soy una heroína. Soy humilde y modesto(a).

14. Estoy enojado I am angry , mad , upset . “I am” in a more temporary way: Things that could change easily.

15. Estoy contenta I am happy . “I am” in a more temporary way: Things that could change easily.

16. Estoy triste I am sad . “I am” in a more temporary way: Things that could change easily.

17. Estoy enfermo I am sick . “I am” in a more temporary way: Things that could change easily.

18. Estoy en la escuela I am at the school . “I am” in a more temporary way: Things that could change easily.

19. Estoy en la tienda I am at the store . “I am” in a more temporary way: Things that could change easily.

20. Estoy hambriento, sediento, muerto de frío, muerto de miedo I am hungry , thirsty , cold to death , scared to death . “I am” in a more temporary way: Things that could change easily.

21. Estoy de prisa I am in a hurry . “I am” in a more temporary way: Things that could change easily.

22. Estoy enojado Estoy contenta Estoy triste Estoy enfermo Estoy en la escuela Estoy en la tienda Estoy hambriento, sediento, muerto de frío, muerto de miedo Estoy de prisa “I am” in a more temporary way: Things that could change easily.

23. Estoy hambriento , estoy sediento . Yes, here you can see that there is a way to use the verb “to be” to say I am hungry. Notice that when you say in Spanish “ estoy hambriento ” it’s a little more dramatic (melodramatic). The most common way is to say “ tengo hambre ”. The same applies to “ estoy sediento ” and “ tengo sed ”.

24. I am in a hurry. “ Tengo prisa ”, “ estoy de prisa ”, “ llevo prisa ”, “ estoy apurado ”, “ ando apurado ” are different ways to say “I am in a hurry”. You don’t have to learn all those at this time. This notice is for you to be able to know what they are saying when you hear someone using those expressions.

25. Estoy muerto = I am dead. Notice that we are using the temporary form of “to be” ( estoy ) with the expression “ estoy muerto ”. Of course when you are dead, that’s not a temporary situation, right? This is a way to emphasize the situation, like in English: thirsty to death, scared to death, and so on. You can use the same expression with laughing to death (“ estar muerto de risa ”).