Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| estoy cansado | /estoi kansado/ (from spelling rules) | masculine |
| estoy cansada | /estoi kansada/ (from spelling rules) | feminine |
This phrase is used to express that you are in need of rest or sleep. If you want to say you are "tired of" something or someone, place the preposition de immediately after the adjective, as in estoy cansado de…
How does it change in a sentence?
The word estoy is the first-person singular present indicative of the verb estar, which is the correct verb to use for temporary states like tiredness. A female speaker must use the feminine form estoy cansada instead of the masculine estoy cansado. To say you are very tired, you can use Estoy muy cansado/cansada.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not use soy cansado, as this would imply that you are a "tiring person" by nature rather than simply feeling tired at the moment. Always use the verb estar to express this temporary state.
Did you know?
- While estoy cansado means you need sleep, if a Spanish speaker says estoy hecho polvo, they are literally saying they are 'made into dust' to express total exhaustion.
- The verb estar in estoy cansado originates from the Latin word stare, which means 'to stand', implying the person is currently standing in a state of fatigue.
- When someone says estoy molido, they are using a culinary metaphor. The word literally means 'ground', as if they have been put through a millstone.
Examples in context
- Estoy cansado de ti.I'm tired of you.This sentence shows how to express being tired of a person using estoy cansado.Tatoeba #12963528 by ecorralest101, translation #3818250 by CK
- Estoy cansado, es todo.I'm tired, that's all.This sentence uses estoy cansado to state a simple condition.Tatoeba #3371998 by cueyayotl, translation #1530330 by erikspen
- Estoy cansado de Boston.I'm tired of Boston.This sentence uses estoy cansado to express being tired of a specific place.Tatoeba #5752597 by arh, translation #2548197 by CK
- Bien, solo que estoy cansado.Fine, just tired.
- 90 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Mateo and Lucía are finished with a long walk in the park.
- MateoEstoy cansado, Lucía.I'm tired, Lucía.
- LucíaYo también estoy cansada.I am tired too.
- Mateo¿Quieres ir a casa?Do you want to go home?
- LucíaSí, por favor.Yes, please.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “I'm tired” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
