ella está enferma
/eʝa esta enfeɾma/from spelling rules
To say "she is sick" in Spanish, use ella está enferma.
This phrase is used to say that a female person is currently ill.
Which one should you use?
Ella está indispuesta is a formal and elaborate way to say She is sick, whereas Ella está mala is an informal way to say She is sick. For an affectionate tone when referring to someone slightly unwell, you can use the diminutive Ella está enfermita.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The slang term Ella está pachucha is used in certain regions like Spain to mean "She is under the weather."
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase uses the verb estar because being sick is considered a temporary state rather than a permanent characteristic.
Did you know?
- In some Spanish-speaking cultures, the phrase está indispuesta is used as a polite euphemism to indicate that a woman is menstruating.
- If you use the verb ser instead of estar to say Ella es enferma, you are implying that being sick is a fundamental part of her identity rather than a temporary illness.
- The word pachucha is an onomatopoeic expression suggesting a feeling of being deflated or softened, reflecting the lethargy of illness.
Examples in context
- Creo que ella está enferma.I think she is sick.This sentence is useful for expressing an opinion about her health using ella está enferma.Tatoeba #537735 by Shishir, translation #261324 by CK
- Yo creo que ella está enferma. Tiene fiebre.I think she is sick. She has a temperature.This sentence is useful for expressing an opinion and noting a symptom using ella está enferma.Tatoeba #2117846 by marcelostockle, translation #316676 by CK
- Ella está enferma.She is sick.This sentence is a direct way to state her condition using ella está enferma.Tatoeba #5085421 by cueyayotl, translation #3378169 by _undertoad
Example conversation
Mateo and Sofía are talking about their friend Ana.
- Mateo¿Por qué no vino Ana hoy?Why didn't Ana come today?
- SofíaNo vino porque ella está enferma.She didn't come because she is sick.
- Mateo¿Es algo grave?Is it something serious?
- SofíaNo, 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.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
