The Portuguese verb "estar" means "to be (temporary)" in English. It is an irregular verb. Below you'll find the complete conjugation tables for "estar" across all 5 tenses. New to Portuguese verbs? Start with the Portuguese verb guide.
Jump to a tense
How to Conjugate "estar" in the Present Tense
Presente do indicativo Actions happening now or regularly| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| eu | I | estou |
| tu | you (informal) | estás |
| ele/ela/você | he/she/you (formal) | está |
| nós | we | estamos |
| vós | you all (formal) | estais |
| eles/elas/vocês | they/you all | estão |
Ela está feliz com tudo.
She is happy with everything.
How to Conjugate "estar" in the Past (completed) Tense
Pretérito perfeito simples Actions completed in the past| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| eu | I | estive |
| tu | you (informal) | estiveste |
| ele/ela/você | he/she/you (formal) | esteve |
| nós | we | estivemos |
| vós | you all (formal) | estivestes |
| eles/elas/vocês | they/you all | estiveram |
Ela esteve doente ontem.
She was sick yesterday.
Want to actually remember these?
VerbPal drills "estar" in real Portuguese sentences using spaced repetition.
Try VerbPal FreeHow to Conjugate "estar" in the Past (ongoing) Tense
Pretérito imperfeito Actions that were ongoing in the past| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| eu | I | estava |
| tu | you (informal) | estavas |
| ele/ela/você | he/she/you (formal) | estava |
| nós | we | estávamos |
| vós | you all (formal) | estáveis |
| eles/elas/vocês | they/you all | estavam |
Ela estava na cozinha ontem.
She was in the kitchen yesterday.
How to Conjugate "estar" in the Future Tense
Futuro do presente Actions that will happen| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| eu | I | estarei |
| tu | you (informal) | estarás |
| ele/ela/você | he/she/you (formal) | estará |
| nós | we | estaremos |
| vós | you all (formal) | estareis |
| eles/elas/vocês | they/you all | estarão |
Você estará pronto às oito.
You will be ready at eight.
How to Conjugate "estar" in the Would (conditional) Tense
Condicional Hypothetical actions| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| eu | I | estaria |
| tu | you (informal) | estarias |
| ele/ela/você | he/she/you (formal) | estaria |
| nós | we | estaríamos |
| vós | you all (formal) | estaríeis |
| eles/elas/vocês | they/you all | estariam |
Você estaria no trabalho.
You would be at work.
Frequently Asked Questions About "estar"
Is "estar" regular or irregular in Portuguese?
"Estar" is an irregular Portuguese verb, meaning its conjugation does not follow standard patterns and must be memorized individually.
What does "estar" mean in English?
The Portuguese verb "estar" means "to be (temporary)" in English.
How do you conjugate "estar" in the present tense?
In the present tense (Presente do indicativo): eu → estou, tu → estás, ele/ela/você → está, nós → estamos, vós → estais, eles/elas/vocês → estão.
How many tenses does "estar" have in Portuguese?
"Estar" is conjugated across 5 tenses in Portuguese: Present, Past (completed), Past (ongoing), Future, Would (conditional).
Master Portuguese verbs for real
Stop memorizing tables. Start speaking with confidence.
Try VerbPal Free3-day free trial. Cancel anytime.