presente
/pɾeˈsente/
The English phrase "I am present" is translated into Spanish as presente.
presente is the standard, one-word response used during a roll call, such as when a teacher or an official calls your name to check attendance.
Which one should you use?
While presente is the standard response, you may also encounter Aquí estoy yo, which is an informal expression that adds emphasis to your presence to mean "I am here".
How does it change in a sentence?
Although the phrase translates to "I am present", the word presente is used alone without the verb estar (to be).
How do you pronounce it?
/pɾeˈsente/
Did you know?
- The word presente is also used as a noun meaning 'gift', making it a homonym for the act of being physically there.
- While English speakers often use 'present' in formal meetings, in Spanish-speaking contexts, using the full phrase Yo estoy presente can sound strangely robotic or overly dramatic, like a character in a play.
- While presente is used for attendance, the word actualmente is used to say 'currently' or 'at present', because actualmente does not refer to the physical state of being present.
Examples in context
- Cuando el profesor hizo la llamada, dije "Estoy presente".When the teacher took attendance, I said "I am present."
- Cuando el presidente preguntó quién estaba presente, respondí "Aquí estoy".When the president asked who was present, I answered "Here I am."
- Cuando mis amigos preguntaron si estaba en la fiesta, respondí con entusiasmo "¡Aquí estoy yo!"When my friends asked if I was at the party, I enthusiastically replied, "I am here!"
- Durante la revisión de asistencia en clase, simplemente dije "Presente".During roll call in class, I simply said "Presente."
- ¡Presente, profesor!Present, professor!
- Aquí estoy, presente.I'm here, present.
Example conversation
A teacher is taking attendance in a classroom.
- Alejandro¡Alejandro!Alejandro!
- MaríaPresente.Present.
- Alejandro¡Y María!And María!
- MaríaPresente, profesor.Present, teacher.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry presente, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
