Estar Conjugation in Portuguese
estar means “to be” in English, and it is one of the first verbs Portuguese learners meet — it sits at number 2 in VerbFlow’s frequency list for Portuguese verbs. It is the verb of location, temporary states and feelings: you use it to say where someone is and how someone is feeling right now. It is different from ser, which is for identity and permanent qualities — estou em casa is a location, sou professor is an identity. Estar also builds the progressive with the gerund, the Portuguese way of saying what someone is doing right now. This page gives you the complete conjugation of estar — every tense, every person, the gerund and the past participle — with notes, examples, common mistakes and a quiz. Here is the verb in a natural sentence: “Eu estou em casa todos os dias.” — “I am at home.”
Quick facts
- Infinitive: estar
- English: to be
- Verb type: Irregular -ar verb
- Irregular in: presente, pretérito perfeito, pretérito mais-que-perfeito simples, presente do subjuntivo, pretérito imperfeito do subjuntivo, futuro do subjuntivo, imperativo afirmativo, imperativo negativo
- Gerund: estando
- Present participle: estante
- Past participle: estado
- Auxiliary: ter (all perfect tenses are formed with ter + the past participle)
- Ending: -ar verbs; pattern ar in the verified tables
Pronunciation
Pronunciation is not listed on this page: the verified tables do not include IPA for estar, so no pronunciation is given rather than an invented one. Learn the spelling of the forms first, and listen to a native speaker for the sounds rather than trusting an invented transcription. The forms below are the ones that matter: once you can read estar in every tense, you can recognise it in speech even before you can pronounce every form perfectly.
Three things to remember about estar
- It is irregular in 8 tense(s): presente, pretérito perfeito, pretérito mais-que-perfeito simples, presente do subjuntivo, pretérito imperfeito do subjuntivo, futuro do subjuntivo, imperativo afirmativo, imperativo negativo. Learn those forms as a set instead of guessing them from the infinitive, because the stem changes in ways no rule predicts.
- The perfect tenses use ter: the pretérito perfeito composto is formed with ter in the present plus the past participle estado. The tables on this page give the participle in the masculine singular form, exactly as it appears in the verified dump; agreement with the subject is a separate step that depends on the sentence, not on the verb table.
- The gerund is estando, the present participle is estante and the past participle is estado: keep all three in mind as you read the tables, because the gerund appears in progressive constructions, the present participle appears as an adjective, and the past participle appears in every perfect tense. If you know those three forms and the present tense, you already know the skeleton of the whole conjugation.
Full conjugation tables
Every form below comes from VerbFlow’s verified conjugation tables for estar. Learn the present tense first, then the pretérito perfeito and the pretérito imperfeito, and add the remaining tenses one at a time.
Present indicative (presente)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | estou |
| tu | estás |
| ele/ela | está |
| nós | estamos |
| vós | estais |
| eles/elas | estão |
The present indicative (presente) is used for habits, facts and things happening now. For example: “Eu estou em casa todos os dias.” — “I am at home”
Pretérito perfeito
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | estive |
| tu | estiveste |
| ele/ela | esteve |
| nós | estivemos |
| vós | estivestes |
| eles/elas | estiveram |
The pretérito perfeito is used for completed actions in the past, especially one finished event. For example: “Eu estive em casa ontem.” — “I was at home”
Pretérito imperfeito
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | estava |
| tu | estavas |
| ele/ela | estava |
| nós | estávamos |
| vós | estáveis |
| eles/elas | estavam |
The pretérito imperfeito is used for ongoing or habitual actions in the past, and for background description. For example: “Eu estava em casa antigamente.” — “I used to be at home”
Pretérito mais-que-perfeito simples
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | estivera |
| tu | estiveras |
| ele/ela | estivera |
| nós | estivéramos |
| vós | estivéreis |
| eles/elas | estiveram |
The pretérito mais-que-perfeito simples is used for an action completed before another past action; in everyday speech the compound form with tinha is more common. For example: “Eu estivera em casa antes do jantar.” — “I had been at home”
Futuro do presente
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | estarei |
| tu | estarás |
| ele/ela | estará |
| nós | estaremos |
| vós | estareis |
| eles/elas | estarão |
The futuro do presente is used for what will happen, for predictions and for promises. For example: “Eu estarei em casa amanhã.” — “I will be at home”
Futuro do pretérito
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | estaria |
| tu | estarias |
| ele/ela | estaria |
| nós | estaríamos |
| vós | estaríeis |
| eles/elas | estariam |
The futuro do pretérito is used for what would happen, for polite requests and for hypothetical situations. For example: “Eu estaria em casa um dia.” — “I would be at home”
Pretérito perfeito composto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | tenho estado |
| tu | tens estado |
| ele/ela | tem estado |
| nós | temos estado |
| vós | tendes estado |
| eles/elas | têm estado |
The pretérito perfeito composto is used for actions that started in the past and continue, or have been repeated, up to the present. For example: “Ele tem estado em casa esta semana.” — “He has been at home”
Pretérito mais-que-perfeito composto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | tinha estado |
| tu | tinhas estado |
| ele/ela | tinha estado |
| nós | tínhamos estado |
| vós | tínheis estado |
| eles/elas | tinham estado |
The pretérito mais-que-perfeito composto is used for an action completed before another past action. For example: “Eu tinha estado em casa antes do jantar.” — “I had been at home”
Futuro do presente composto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | terei estado |
| tu | terás estado |
| ele/ela | terá estado |
| nós | teremos estado |
| vós | tereis estado |
| eles/elas | terão estado |
The futuro do presente composto is used for what will have happened by a point in the future. For example: “Eu terei estado em casa até amanhã.” — “I will have been at home”
Futuro do pretérito composto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | teria estado |
| tu | terias estado |
| ele/ela | teria estado |
| nós | teríamos estado |
| vós | teríeis estado |
| eles/elas | teriam estado |
The futuro do pretérito composto is used for what would have happened in a different past. For example: “Eu teria estado em casa ontem.” — “I would have been at home”
Presente do subjuntivo
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | esteja |
| tu | estejas |
| ele/ela | esteja |
| nós | estejamos |
| vós | estejais |
| eles/elas | estejam |
The presente do subjuntivo is used for wishes, doubts, emotions and opinions after que. For example: “É importante que eu esteja em casa.” — “It is important that I be at home”
Pretérito imperfeito do subjuntivo
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | estivesse |
| tu | estivesses |
| ele/ela | estivesse |
| nós | estivéssemos |
| vós | estivésseis |
| eles/elas | estivessem |
The pretérito imperfeito do subjuntivo is used in the past for wishes and hypotheticals after que, and in se-clauses. For example: “Era importante que eu estivesse em casa.” — “It was important that I be at home”
Futuro do subjuntivo
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | estiver |
| tu | estiveres |
| ele/ela | estiver |
| nós | estivermos |
| vós | estiverdes |
| eles/elas | estiverem |
The futuro do subjuntivo is used after se and quando for a future possibility, where English would use the present. For example: “Se eu estiver em casa, é bom.” — “If I am at home, that is good”
Imperativo (affirmative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tu | está |
| ele/ela | esteja |
| nós | estejamos |
| vós | estai |
| eles/elas | estejam |
The affirmative imperative is used for direct commands and instructions. For example: “Está em casa!” — “Be at home!”
Imperativo (negative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tu | não estejas |
| ele/ela | não esteja |
| nós | não estejamos |
| vós | não estejais |
| eles/elas | não estejam |
The negative imperative is used for prohibitions and negative commands. For example: “Não estejas em casa.” — “Do not be at home.”
Presente do subjuntivo composto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | tenha estado |
| tu | tenhas estado |
| ele/ela | tenha estado |
| nós | tenhamos estado |
| vós | tenhais estado |
| eles/elas | tenham estado |
The presente do subjuntivo composto is used for a completed action in a subordinate clause expressing doubt, wish or emotion. For example: “É importante que eu tenha estado em casa.” — “It is important that I have been at home”
Pretérito imperfeito do subjuntivo composto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | tivesse estado |
| tu | tivesses estado |
| ele/ela | tivesse estado |
| nós | tivéssemos estado |
| vós | tivésseis estado |
| eles/elas | tivessem estado |
The pretérito imperfeito do subjuntivo composto is used for a completed action in a past subordinate clause. For example: “Era importante que eu tivesse estado em casa.” — “It was important that I had been at home”
Futuro do subjuntivo composto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | tiver estado |
| tu | tiveres estado |
| ele/ela | tiver estado |
| nós | tivermos estado |
| vós | tiverdes estado |
| eles/elas | tiverem estado |
The futuro do subjuntivo composto is used after se for a completed future possibility. For example: “Se eu tiver estado em casa, é bom.” — “If I have been at home, that is good”
Gerund
| Form | Portuguese |
|---|---|
| Gerund | estando |
The gerund is used for an action happening at the same time as another action, often with estar for the progressive. For example: “Estando em casa, aprendo muito.” — “While being at home, I learn a lot.”
Present participle
| Form | Portuguese |
|---|---|
| Present participle | estante |
The present participle is used as an adjective, describing an ongoing action. For example, the participle estante is used to describe something that is happening at the same time as the main action, much like an English -ing adjective. You will meet estante more often as an adjective or a noun than as a verb form, so learn it as a word in its own right.
Past participle
| Form | Portuguese |
|---|---|
| Past participle | estado |
The past participle is used with an auxiliary to form the perfect tenses, and as an adjective. For example: “Eu tenho estado em casa esta semana.” — “I have been at home.”
Example sentences
Ten natural sentences with estar, covering different tenses and persons. Say each one aloud, then cover the Portuguese and try to produce it from the English.
- “Eu estou em casa todos os dias.” — “I am at home”
- “Tu estiveste em casa ontem.” — “You were at home”
- “Ele estava em casa antigamente.” — “He used to be at home”
- “Eu estarei em casa amanhã.” — “I will be at home”
- “Tu estarias em casa um dia.” — “You would be at home”
- “Ele tem estado em casa esta semana.” — “He has been at home”
- “Eu tinha estado em casa antes do jantar.” — “I had been at home”
- “Tu terás estado em casa até amanhã.” — “You will have been at home”
- “É importante que eu esteja em casa.” — “It is important that I be at home”
- “Está em casa!” — “Be at home!”
Common mistakes
1. Using the infinitive instead of a conjugated form
✗ Wrong: “Eu estar em casa.”
✓ Right: “Eu estou em casa todos os dias.”
The infinitive estar never takes a subject. After eu you need the conjugated present form estou.
2. Using the wrong person’s form
✗ Wrong: “Eu estás em casa.”
✓ Right: “Eu estou em casa todos os dias.”
estás is the tu form, not the eu form. Match the verb to the subject every time: eu goes with estou.
3. Using the present for a finished past action
✗ Wrong: “Eu estou em casa ontem.”
✓ Right: “Eu estive em casa ontem.”
Ontem points to the past, so the present is wrong here. Use the pretérito perfeito estive for a finished action yesterday.
4. Using the wrong auxiliary in the pretérito perfeito composto
✗ Wrong: “Eu sou estado em casa.”
✓ Right: “Eu tenho estado em casa esta semana.”
The pretérito perfeito composto of estar is formed with ter plus the past participle estado: the eu form is tenho estado. Check the auxiliary in the table above before you build a perfect tense.
5. Using the indicative after a subjunctive trigger
✗ Wrong: “É importante que eu estou em casa.”
✓ Right: “É importante que eu esteja em casa.”
After é importante que Portuguese needs the subjunctive, so use esteja here, not the indicative estou.
6. Using the gerund instead of the past participle in a perfect tense
✗ Wrong: “Eu tenho estando em casa.”
✓ Right: “Eu tenho estado em casa esta semana.”
The perfect tenses need the past participle estado, not the gerund estando. The gerund belongs in progressive constructions, never after an auxiliary in a perfect tense.
Quiz: test yourself
Ten questions on estar. Choose the right form, then check the answer key below.
What is the eu form of estar in the Present indicative (presente)?
- A) estás
- B) estou
- C) está
- D) estamos
What is the ele/ela form of estar in the Pretérito perfeito?
- A) estive
- B) estiveste
- C) esteve
- D) estivemos
What is the nós form of estar in the Pretérito imperfeito?
- A) estava
- B) estavas
- C) estáveis
- D) estávamos
What is the tu form of estar in the Futuro do presente?
- A) estarás
- B) estarei
- C) estará
- D) estaremos
What is the eu form of estar in the Futuro do pretérito?
- A) estarias
- B) estaria
- C) estaríamos
- D) estaríeis
What is the ele/ela form of estar in the Pretérito perfeito composto?
- A) tenho estado
- B) tens estado
- C) tem estado
- D) temos estado
What is the ele/ela form of estar in the Presente do subjuntivo?
- A) estejas
- B) estejamos
- C) estejais
- D) esteja
What is the eu form of estar in the Pretérito imperfeito do subjuntivo?
- A) estivesse
- B) estivesses
- C) estivéssemos
- D) estivésseis
What is the gerund of estar?
- A) estado
- B) estando
- C) estar
- D) estou
What does estar mean in English?
- A) to have
- B) —
- C) to be
- D) —
Answer key
- B) estou — the correct form is estou. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- C) esteve — the correct form is esteve. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- D) estávamos — the correct form is estávamos. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- A) estarás — the correct form is estarás. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- B) estaria — the correct form is estaria. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- C) tem estado — the correct form is tem estado. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- D) esteja — the correct form is esteja. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- A) estivesse — the correct form is estivesse. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- B) estando — the correct form is estando. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- C) to be — the correct form is to be. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
Frequently asked questions
What does estar mean in English?
estar means “to be”. It is a core everyday verb, so its present-tense forms are worth learning first.
Is estar regular or irregular?
estar is irregular: it is irregular in presente, pretérito perfeito, pretérito mais-que-perfeito simples, presente do subjuntivo, pretérito imperfeito do subjuntivo, futuro do subjuntivo, imperativo afirmativo, imperativo negativo. The gerund is estando and the past participle is estado.
What are the gerund and past participle of estar?
The gerund is estando — use it with estar for the progressive. The past participle is estado — use it with ter for the perfect tenses, as in tenho estado.
Which auxiliary does estar take in the pretérito perfeito composto?
estar takes ter in the pretérito perfeito composto: the eu form is tenho estado. All seven compound tenses on this page are built with ter plus the past participle estado.
How do I say “I be” in Portuguese?
Say “Eu estou em casa todos os dias.” — “I am at home” The eu form of the present is estou, and it is the form you will use most often.
Related pages
- Full conjugation of estar — every tense of estar in one place.
- Estar in the pretérito perfeito tense — the full table and usage rules for one tense.
- Estar examples and quiz — more example sentences and practice questions for this verb.
- Portuguese pretérito perfeito tense guide — the full guide to the pretérito perfeito tense in Portuguese.
- Portuguese irregular verbs — every common irregular Portuguese verb, grouped by pattern.
- Dar conjugation — another everyday Portuguese verb.
- Ficar conjugation — another everyday Portuguese verb.
- Portuguese verbs — the full hub of Portuguese conjugation pages.
- VerbFlow home — all languages, tools and verb lists.
- Verb Conjugator — practise estar with the interactive tool.
- Conjugation Chart Printer — practise estar with the interactive tool.
- Tense Finder — practise estar with the interactive tool.