“They are” translates to “ellos son” or “ellos están” depending on context; use “ellas” for all-female groups and “ellos” for mixed groups.
Learning how to say “they are” in Spanish is one of the first major hurdles for English speakers. In English, the phrase covers everything from location to identity. Spanish divides these concepts into two distinct verbs: ser and estar. Additionally, gender plays a massive role in selecting the correct pronoun. This guide breaks down exactly how to translate this phrase correctly every time, ensuring you sound natural and grammatically accurate.
The Core Components Of ‘They Are’ in Spanish
To translate this phrase correctly, you must handle two specific grammatical elements: the subject pronoun (who is “they”?) and the verb (is it permanent or temporary?). Spanish demands specificity here where English remains vague.
Choosing The Correct Pronoun
English uses “they” for everyone—groups of men, groups of women, mixed groups, and inanimate objects. Spanish requires you to distinguish between genders immediately.
- Ellos — Use this for a group of males or a mixed group containing at least one male. Even if there are ninety-nine women and one man, the grammatical gender remains masculine (ellos).
- Ellas — Use this exclusively for a group consisting entirely of females.
Note on objects: Spanish rarely uses subject pronouns for inanimate objects. If you are talking about books or cars, you generally omit the “ellos/ellas” and simply use the conjugated verb.
Choosing The Correct Verb
Once you have your pronoun, you must choose between ser and estar. Both mean “to be,” but they function differently.
- Son (from Ser) — Use this for permanent traits, identity, origin, and time.
- Están (from Estar) — Use this for location, temporary conditions, emotions, and ongoing actions.
When To Use ‘Son’ (Ser)
The verb ser connects the subject to an inherent quality. When you translate “they are” as ellos son or ellas son, you are usually defining what something is at its core.
Identity And Physical Description
If you are describing physical characteristics or identifying who people are, use son. These traits are considered part of the person’s essential makeup.
- Ellos son altos. — They are tall.
- Ellas son mis hermanas. — They are my sisters.
- Ellos son inteligentes. — They are intelligent.
Origin And Nationality
Where someone comes from does not change. Therefore, nationality and place of origin always require ser.
- Ellos son de México. — They are from Mexico.
- Ellas son estadounidenses. — They are American.
Occupations And Religion
While jobs can change, Spanish grammar treats professions as defining characteristics of a person’s identity.
- Ellos son doctores. — They are doctors.
- Ellas son estudiantes. — They are students.
- Ellos son católicos. — They are Catholic.
When To Use ‘Están’ (Estar)
The verb estar connects the subject to a state or a place. When using ellos están or ellas están, you imply that the situation is subject to change or is relative to the current moment.
Location And Position
This is the most rigid rule in Spanish: simple location always uses estar. It does not matter if the location is permanent (like a building) or temporary (like a person traveling). If “they are” answers “where,” use están.
- Ellos están en la casa. — They are in the house.
- Ellas están en Madrid. — They are in Madrid.
- Los libros están sobre la mesa. — The books are on the table. (Note the omitted pronoun).
Emotions And Physical Conditions
Feelings and health conditions fluctuate. If “they are” describes a mood or a temporary state of being, están is the correct choice.
- Ellos están tristes. — They are sad.
- Ellas están cansadas. — They are tired.
- Ellos están enfermos. — They are sick.
Present Progressive Actions
When “they are” is helping another verb (e.g., “They are eating”), Spanish uses estar plus the gerund (words ending in -ando or -iendo).
- Ellos están comiendo. — They are eating.
- Ellas están trabajando. — They are working.
- Ellos están durmiendo. — They are sleeping.
Contextual Meanings Of ‘They Are’ in Spanish
Certain adjectives change meaning entirely depending on which verb you choose. This is where mastery of “they are” becomes evident.
Ser vs. Estar Comparisons
Listo (Smart vs. Ready)
- Ellos son listos. — They are smart (clever).
- Ellos están listos. — They are ready (prepared).
Aburrido (Boring vs. Bored)
- Ellas son aburridas. — They are boring (personality trait).
- Ellas están aburridas. — They are bored (current feeling).
Rico (Rich vs. Delicious)
- Ellos son ricos. — They are rich (wealthy people).
- Ellos están ricos. — They are delicious (referring to food items).
Subject Pronoun Omission
Spanish is a pro-drop language. This means the conjugation of the verb often carries enough information to identify the subject, allowing you to drop the “ellos” or “ellas.”
Quick check: If the context is clear, dropping the pronoun sounds more natural to native speakers.
- Context: You are talking about your parents.
- Natural phrasing:Están en el trabajo. (They are at work.)
- Redundant phrasing:Ellos están en el trabajo.
Deeper explanation: You typically only include “ellos” or “ellas” for emphasis or to clarify between groups. For example, if you are contrasting what the boys are doing versus the girls: “Ellas comen, pero ellos hablan.”
Confusing ‘They Are’ With ‘There Are’
Beginners often confuse “they are” with “there are” because both phrases describe existence in English. In Spanish, these are completely different verbs.
- They are — Son or Están (Subject performs the verb).
- There are — Hay (From the verb haber; indicates existence).
Examples:
- Incorrect:Están muchos libros aquí. (Literally: They are many books here.)
- Correct:Hay muchos libros aquí. (There are many books here.)
- Correct Usage of ‘They are’:Los libros son rojos. (The books are red.)
Grammar Drills For ‘They Are’ in Spanish
To solidify your understanding, review these common scenarios where English speakers trip up. Pay attention to gender and the permanence of the state.
Scenario 1: Describing a Mixed Group of Friends
You have a group of three female friends and one male friend standing at the door.
- Pronoun:Ellos (Masculine dominates mixed groups).
- Action: Arriving (Location/Action).
- Result:Ellos están aquí. (They are here.)
Scenario 2: Describing Fruit
You are talking about apples on a table. Apples (manzanas) are feminine.
- Pronoun:Ellas (Implied/Omitted).
- Trait: Color (Permanent characteristic).
- Result:Son rojas. (They are red.)
- Condition: Unripe (Temporary state).
- Result:Están verdes. (They are unripe/green.)
Scenario 3: Describing Personality
You are describing your neighbors.
- Trait: Nice/Kind.
- Verb:Ser (Personality is inherent).
- Result:Son amables. (They are nice.)
Common Mistakes To Avoid
Even advanced learners make slips with “they are.” Watch out for these frequent errors.
Using ‘Ellos’ for Objects Unnecessarily
English speakers want to say “they” for everything. If you point at shoes and say “Ellos son caros,” it sounds clunky. Native speakers simply say “Son caros.”
Applying ‘Ser’ to Events Locations
This is a tricky exception. Normally, location uses estar. However, if “they are” refers to events (like parties, meetings, or concerts) taking place, use ser.
- The people are at the party:Ellos están en la fiesta. (Location of people = Estar).
- The parties are in the hall:Las fiestas son en el salón. (Location of event = Ser).
Key Takeaways: ‘They Are’ in Spanish
➤ Gender matters: Use ellos for males/mixed groups and ellas for females.
➤ Identify the nature: Use son for permanent traits and están for temporary states.
➤ Location rule: Always use están for location, unless describing where an event takes place.
➤ Drop the pronoun: Native speakers omit ellos/ellas when the subject is clear.
➤ Watch for changes: Adjectives like listo change meaning depending on the verb used.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I always need to say “ellos” or “ellas”?
No, you should often omit them. Spanish verbs change their endings to indicate the subject. If you say “Son altos” or “Están aquí,” the listener already knows you mean “they are.” Use the pronouns only when you need to emphasize who you are talking about or clarify gender.
How do I say “they are” for non-binary individuals?
Traditional Spanish grammar uses the masculine ellos for mixed or indeterminate gender. However, modern inclusive language is evolving with the pronoun elles. While not yet standard in all academic texts, elles son or elles están is increasingly used in social contexts to include non-binary individuals.
Can “they are” ever be singular in Spanish?
In English, we use a singular “they” for a person of unknown gender. Spanish does not function this way. You must assign a gender and number. If the person is unknown, you might use someone (alguien) or rephrase, but you cannot use a plural ellos for a single person grammatically.
What if I am talking about a group of animals?
Animals follow the same gender rules as humans. If you have a group of female cats, use ellas. If you have a mixed group of dogs, use ellos. For wild animals where gender is unknown, usually the masculine ellos or simply the verb (son/están) is used by default.
Is “ustedes” the same as “they are”?
No. Ustedes means “you all” (plural “you”). It uses the same verb conjugation as ellos/ellas (e.g., ustedes son), which can be confusing. However, the meaning is second-person (people you are talking to), not third-person (people you are talking about).
Wrapping It Up – ‘They Are’ in Spanish
Mastering the translation of “they are” requires a shift in mindset. You stop thinking of “to be” as a single concept and start categorizing the world into permanent characteristics versus temporary states. By paying attention to the gender of the group (ellos vs. ellas) and the context of the sentence (ser vs. estar), you will communicate with precision.
Start listening to how native speakers use these phrases. Notice how often they drop the pronoun entirely. With practice, choosing between son and están becomes instinctive rather than a calculated grammar decision.