te estoy mirando
/te estoi miɾando/from spelling rules
In Spanish, te estoy mirando means "I am watching you".
This phrase is used to state that you are currently looking at someone. While the verb mirar can mean "to watch," in many contexts it specifically implies the physical act of looking at someone's face or person. If you wish to express the idea of monitoring or keeping an eye on someone, you can use the verb vigilar. To express observing, use observar or to say you have someone in your sights, use the expression tenerte en la mira.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase te estoy mirando literally means "you I am looking at." It is composed of the object pronoun te (you), the verb estoy (I am) and the gerund mirando (looking/watching).
How does it change in a sentence?
You can change the placement of the object pronoun by attaching it to the end of the gerund to form estoy mirándote. To change the object from the informal "you" to "him" or "it," replace te with lo (e.g., lo estoy mirando). To change the object to "her" or "it" (feminine), replace te with la (e.g., la estoy mirando).
Did you know?
- In some Spanish-speaking cultures, a prolonged te estoy mirando accompanied by a specific gaze can be a non-verbal way to signal a challenge or a romantic interest, depending on the social context.
- The expression tenerte en la mira, meaning to have someone in one's sights, originates from the 'mira' or the sight of a firearm.
- In many Spanish dialects, adding the word fijamente to te estoy mirando transforms a simple observation into an intense, unblinking stare.
Examples in context
- Estoy observándola, asegúrese de que esté hablando claramente.I am watching you, make sure you speak clearly.
- ¡Te estoy mirando! No te escondas demasiado rápido.I am watching you! Don't hide too quickly.
- Te estoy mirando desde la ventana.I am watching you from the window.
- No te muevas, te estoy mirando.Don't move, I am watching you.
Example conversation
A mother playing a game of hide and seek with her son.
- María¡Te estoy mirando, Daniel!I am watching you, Daniel!
- Daniel¡No es cierto, mamá!That's not true, mom!
- MaríaSí, te estoy mirando detrás del árbol.Yes, I am watching you behind the tree.
- Daniel¡Me encontraste!You found me!
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
