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estoy enfermo

verbBeginner

What does “estoy enfermo” mean in English?

  1. I'm ill

Example sentences

  • Estoy enfermo, no voy al trabajo.

    I'm sick, I'm not going to work.

  • Mi madre está enferma.

    My mother is sick.

  • Voy al médico porque estoy enfermo.

    I'm going to the doctor because I'm sick.

How to use it

Estoy enfermo means 'I'm sick / ill'. Estar + enfermo/-a. Use estar for the temporary state of being unwell.

Common mistake

Enfermo with estar = temporarily sick. Enfermo with ser = chronically ill / sickly as a trait. Match the verb to the duration.

Topics

Related Beginner words

Reference

This entry’s teaching guidance follows A New Reference Grammar of Modern Spanish (Butt, Benjamin & Moreira Rodríguez, Routledge), 29.