está enfermo
/esta enfeɾmo/from spelling rules
The English phrase 'he is sick' is translated into Spanish as está enfermo.
This phrase is used to indicate that a male person is currently suffering from an illness or disease. You may also use se siente mal to say that someone is feeling sick or unwell, or padece una enfermedad to mean that someone suffers from an illness.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of está (he/she/it is) and enfermo (sick/ill).
Which one should you use?
In Spanish, you use the verb estar (está) rather than ser (es) because being sick is considered a temporary state or condition.
How does it change in a sentence?
To refer to a group of males or a mixed group when saying 'they are sick', use the plural form están enfermos.
Did you know?
- In many Spanish-speaking countries, if someone says está malo, it can mean 'he is sick', but it can also be a very informal way to say 'he is naughty' or even 'he is handsome' depending on the context and region.
- The word enfermo shares an ancestor with the English word 'firm'. While 'firm' implies strength, the addition of the prefix 'in-' in Latin turned the meaning into the opposite: 'not strong'.
- In some Spanish-speaking cultures, saying está enfermo can be a polite euphemism to avoid mentioning a specific, taboo, or shameful illness.
Examples in context
- Parece obvio que él está enfermo.It seems obvious that he is sick.This sentence shows how to use está enfermo to express an obvious situation.Tatoeba #1372026 by marcelostockle, translation #414634 by CK
- «¿Dónde está Tom?» «Está enfermo.»"Where is Tom?" "He is sick."This example demonstrates using está enfermo to answer a question about a person's status.Tatoeba #10072592 by Shishir, translation #6462615 by Alternia
- Él está enfermo.He is sick.This is a simple way to state that he is sick using está enfermo.Tatoeba #758098 by darinmex, translation #371410 by saeb
- ¿Qué le sucede al señor Martínez? – Se encuentra mal, necesita descansar.What's wrong with Mr. Martínez? – He is feeling unwell, he needs to rest.
- ¿Qué le pasa a Juanito? – Está enfermo, tiene fiebre y tos.What's wrong with Juanito? – He is sick, he has a fever and cough.
- ¿Por qué no ha venido a la fiesta Manolo? – Se siente mal, tiene dolor de cabeza.Why didn't Manolo come to the party? – He feels bad, he has a headache.
Example conversation
Elena and Daniel are talking about a sick friend at home.
- Elena¿Dónde está Carlos?Where is Carlos?
- DanielÉl está enfermo hoy.He is sick today.
- Elena¿Es algo grave?Is it anything serious?
- DanielNo, solo es un resfriado.No, it is just a cold.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries enfermo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
