estuve ausente
/estube ausente/from spelling rules
In Spanish, estuve ausente means "I was absent".
The phrase estuve ausente is used to state that you were not present at a specific place or event. While this phrase is correct, it is often more common in many Spanish-speaking contexts to use the verb faltar to express the same idea, such as saying falté a clase for "I missed class".
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the first-person singular preterite of estar (to be/to stay) and the adjective ausente (absent).
How does it change in a sentence?
The form estuve ausente uses the preterite tense of estar, which indicates a completed state of absence in the past. If you want to emphasize an ongoing state of being absent or describe the background of a situation, you would use the imperfect form estaba ausente instead.
Did you know?
- In a formal Spanish roll call, a teacher might ask ¿Quién falta?, which translates literally to 'Who is lacking?' rather than 'Who is absent?'
- In many Spanish-speaking countries, saying estuve ausente can sound overly formal or even poetic, as if you are describing a character in a novel.
- While ausente refers to physical absence, it can also describe someone who is 'absent-minded' or daydreaming, much like the English 'absent'.
Examples in context
- Estuve ausente de la reunión.I was absent from the meeting.This sentence shows how to use estuve ausente regarding a meeting.Tatoeba #536418 by Leono, translation #256561 by CK
- Yo estuve ausente en el colegio ayer.I was absent from school yesterday.This sentence uses estuve ausente to describe being absent from school.Tatoeba #1339509 by marcelostockle, translation #1174789 by CK
- Estuve ausente a clases porque estaba enfermo.I was absent from school because I was sick.This sentence uses estuve ausente to explain an absence from class due to illness.Tatoeba #1675357 by marcelostockle, translation #1174802 by CK
- 3 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Alejandro is talking to his teacher about a missed class.
- AlejandroHola, Lucía. Estuve ausente el lunes pasado.Hello, Lucía. I was absent last Monday.
- LucíaNo te preocupes, Alejandro. ¿Qué pasó?Don't worry, Alejandro. What happened?
- AlejandroMe sentía mal y no pude venir.I felt sick and couldn't come.
- LucíaEstá bien. Te daré la tarea ahora.That's fine. I will give you the homework now.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
