soy gay
/soi ɡai/from spelling rules
To say "I am gay" in Spanish, you use soy gay.
Soy gay is the most common and straightforward way to express that you are gay in Spanish. Another option is Soy homosexual, which is a neutral term that covers both gay men and lesbian women.
Which one should you use?
While soy gay is the standard for a man, a woman might also use soy gay, though soy lesbiana is a more specific alternative for women. For a more general statement, Soy homosexual can be used to mean "I am homosexual."
How does it change in a sentence?
This phrase uses the verb ser (in the form soy) rather than estar because sexual orientation is considered a permanent characteristic in Spanish.
Did you know?
- In some Latin American countries, the word maricón is used as a slur, but it has been reclaimed by many in the LGBTQ+ community to be used as a term of empowerment and pride.
- Spanish speakers may use the phrase estoy en el armario to say they are still 'in the closet', utilizing the verb estar because being closeted is viewed as a temporary state.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, the phrase salir del armario is used to describe the act of coming out, mirroring the English 'coming out of the closet'.
Examples in context
- ¿Y qué si soy gay? ¿Acaso es eso un crimen?So what if I am gay? Is it a crime?Tatoeba #693849 by Shishir, translation #2107 by hoangngocson
- Soy gay.I am gay.Tatoeba #526220 by Andranik, translation #1764716 by shekitten
- Él me dijo que soy gay.He told me that I am gay.
Example conversation
Alejandro and María are talking about his personal life.
- AlejandroMaría, tengo que decirte algo importante.María, I have to tell you something important.
- María¿Qué pasa, Alejandro?What is happening, Alejandro?
- AlejandroLa verdad es que soy gay.The truth is that I am gay.
- MaríaGracias por confiar en mí.Thank you for trusting me.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
