Spanish · CEFR Band 1 (A1) · Chapter 39
Estoy cansadoI am tired
Talking about how you feel. Vocabulary: contento, triste, cansado, nervioso, ocupado, enfermo, preocupado, tranquilo, enfadado, aburrido. Key point: for feelings and passing states you use "estar", NOT "ser". In chapter 14 you learned "estar" for location (¿Dónde estás?); now "estar" also serves for how you feel RIGHT NOW: "Estoy cansado", "Está contenta", "Estamos nerviosos". "Ser" is for the permanent (Soy alto, Es simpática); "estar" is for the temporary (Estoy triste hoy). The adjective agrees: "Ella está cansada", "Ellos están cansados". English speakers, because English uses a single verb "to be", say "Soy cansado" ✗ → "Estoy cansado" ✓.
Dialogue
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Soy cansado / Estoy cansado
- LucíaMike, ¿cómo estás hoy?Mike, how are you today?
- MikeSoy cansado. Trabajé mucho ayer.I am tired. I worked a lot yesterday. (slip: a feeling needs "estar" — "Estoy cansado")
- LucíaUn sentimiento va con "estar": "Estoy cansado", no "soy".A feeling goes with "estar": "Estoy cansado", not "soy".
- MikeAh, claro. Estoy cansado, pero estoy contento también.Ah, right. I am tired, but I am happy too.
- Lucía¡Muy bien! ¿Y por qué estás contento?Very good! And why are you happy?
- MikePorque mañana estaré de vacaciones. ¡Estoy muy tranquilo!Because tomorrow I will be on holiday. I am very relaxed!
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¿Cómo estás?— How are you?
- CarlosLucía, te veo preocupada. ¿Estás bien?Lucía, you look worried. Are you okay?
- LucíaEstoy un poco nerviosa. Mañana tengo un examen.I am a little nervous. Tomorrow I have an exam.
- CarlosTranquila, estás preparada. Todo saldrá bien.Relax, you are prepared. Everything will go well.
- LucíaGracias. Ahora estoy más tranquila. ¿Y tú, cómo estás?Thanks. Now I am calmer. And you, how are you?
- CarlosEstoy contento. Es viernes y no estoy ocupado.I am happy. It is Friday and I am not busy.
- Lucía¡Qué bien! Entonces los dos estamos mejor.How nice! So we are both feeling better.
Vocabulary
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- contento
adjectivehappy, content
- triste
adjectivesad
- cansado
adjectivetired
- nervioso
adjectivenervous
- ocupado
adjectivebusy
- enfermo
adjectivesick, ill
- preocupado
adjectiveworried
- tranquilo
adjectivecalm, relaxed
- enfadado
adjectiveangry
- aburrido
adjectivebored
Grammar
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Feelings with "estar"
Explanation
Spanish has two verbs for "to be": "ser" and "estar". "Ser" describes what something IS permanently: identity, profession, physical character — "Soy alto", "Es profesora", "Ella es simpática". "Estar" describes WHERE something is (chapter 14: "El banco está en la plaza") and HOW it feels or is right now. For feelings and passing states, always "estar": "Estoy cansado", "Estás contento", "Está triste", "Estamos ocupados", "Están nerviosos". The adjective agrees in gender and number: "Ella está cansada", "Nosotras estamos contentas", "Ellos están enfadados". The key idea: a feeling CHANGES (today I am sad, tomorrow I will be happy), and what changes goes with "estar". Typical mistake: in English there is one verb "to be", so English speakers use "ser": "Soy cansado" ✗ (that would sound like a permanent trait). Correct: "Estoy cansado" ✓.
Examples
- Hoy estoy muy cansado.Today I am very tired.
- Ella está contenta con su trabajo.She is happy with her job.
- Estamos nerviosos por el examen.We are nervous about the exam.
- ¿Por qué estás triste?Why are you sad?
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