/esˈtaɾ en las ˈnuβes/ lit. ‘to be in the clouds’
Spanish idiom, everyday. To be lost in thought and not paying attention.
Draft Not yet checked by a native Spanish speaker.
How do people use Estar en las nubes
?
Everyday Spanish, gentle and a bit teasing, said to a distracted pupil, partner or friend. “Estás en las nubes” means you weren’t listening right now; “vive en las nubes” means the person is a dreamer by nature.
Also said vivir en las nubes, tener la cabeza en las nubes, andar en las nubes
Estar en las nubes
in real sentences
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Mi padre estaba en las nubes.
My father was lost in thought.
Tatoeba, sentence by cueyayotl, translation by CK, CC BY 2.0 FR
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Él vive en las nubes.
He is daydreaming.
Tatoeba, sentence by Jormomo, translation by Jormomo, CC BY 2.0 FR
Where does Estar en las nubes
come from?
The picture is a mind floating up and away from what’s happening on the ground. Spanish Wiktionary defines it as being distracted or absorbed and lists “estar en Babia” and “mirar las musarañas” as synonyms. No first date is recorded.
Mistakes learners make with Estar en las nubes
Using “ser” instead of “estar”. Spanish treats being distracted as a passing state, so “soy en las nubes” is simply wrong.
Other Spanish idioms like Estar en las nubes
Spot a mistake in Estar en las nubes
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