Introduction
Learning how to say simple sentences about other people is one of the first skills in Spanish. This article explains basic sentences using he and she so beginners can understand subject pronouns, verb agreement, common verbs, and everyday vocabulary. Clear examples and small practice sets help you start speaking and reading right away.
Subject pronouns: he and she
The two Spanish subject pronouns you need are él and ella. Use él when you talk about a man, boy, or a masculine noun. Use ella for a woman, girl, or a feminine noun. These pronouns usually go before the verb but can be dropped because Spanish verb endings often show who is doing the action.
Key point: él and ella match the gender of the person or noun you talk about.
Present tense with common verbs
Begin with three very common verbs: ser (to be, identity), estar (to be, location or state), and tener (to have). These verbs are irregular but essential.
Examples with ser
Él es profesor.
Ella es estudiante.
Él es médico.
Notes: Use ser for professions, origin, and permanent characteristics.
Examples with estar
Él está en la oficina.
Ella está cansada.
Él está contento hoy.
Notes: Use estar for location and temporary states or emotions.
Examples with tener
Él tiene un libro.
Ella tiene dos hijos.
Él tiene hambre.
Notes: Use tener to express possession and many physical states such as hunger, thirst, and age.
Pronoun drop: when you can omit él or ella
Spanish often drops the subject pronoun because the verb ending shows who performs the action. For beginners, include the pronoun when you need clarity or emphasis.
Hablo con ella. (I speak with her.)
Es doctor. (He or she is a doctor — use context to know which.)
Tip: Keep the pronoun while learning verb endings; remove it later as you get comfortable.
Basic sentence patterns with he and she
Practice these simple patterns. They are used in daily conversations and signs.
Affirmative statements
Él camina por la calle.
Ella trabaja en un banco.
Él come en el restaurante.
Negative statements
Él no fuma.
Ella no tiene clases hoy.
Questions
¿Él viene mañana?
¿Ella necesita ayuda?
Using adjectives with he and she
Adjectives in Spanish must agree in gender and number with the noun or pronoun. For adjectives that change with gender, add an -a for feminine and -o for masculine in the singular.
Él es alto.
Ella es alta.
Él está ocupado.
Ella está ocupada.
Common adjective exceptions
Adjectives that end in -e or a consonant often stay the same for both genders: él es inteligente, ella es inteligente.
Common vocabulary for he/she sentences
Below are practical nouns, verbs, and adjectives useful for simple sentences about people.
Verbs: ser, estar, tener, vivir, trabajar, estudiar, venir, ir, comer, beber, leer
Nouns: amigo, amiga, hombre, mujer, niño, niña, profesor, estudiante, médico, oficina
Adjectives: feliz, triste, cansado, cansada, ocupado, ocupada, grande, pequeño, inteligente, joven
Practical examples for everyday situations
These short interactions appear in messages, schedules, menus, and everyday speech.
At a clinic: Él es el doctor. Ella es la enfermera.
On a schedule: Ella llega a las ocho. Él sale a las cuatro.
In a restaurant: Él quiere agua. Ella quiere la ensalada.
In class: Ella estudia español. Él practica la pronunciación.
Short dialogues for practice
Use these tiny dialogues to practice listening or speaking with a partner.
Person A: ¿Quién es ella?
Person B: Ella es mi hermana.
Person A: ¿Y él?
Person B: Él es mi hermano.
Practice tip: Read each line out loud, swapping roles, and then change the names and verbs to personalize the practice.
Common mistakes beginners make
Mistake 1: Using estar instead of ser or vice versa. Remember ser for identity and permanent traits, estar for location and temporary states.
Mistake 2: Forgetting adjective agreement. Check that adjectives match gender: ella está cansada, not ella está cansado.
Mistake 3: Overusing the subject pronoun. While safe, avoid repeating pronouns when context makes the subject clear.
Mistake 4: Confusing tiene and hay. Use tiene for possession (Ella tiene un carro) and hay to say there is/are (Hay un carro en la calle).
Mini practice set: identify correct sentences
Choose the correct sentence for each context.
1) A man is a teacher. Options: Él es maestro. / Ella es maestroa.
2) A woman is tired. Options: Ella está cansada. / Ella está cansado.
3) He has three children. Options: Él tiene tres hijos. / Ella tiene tres hijos.
Answers: 1) Él es maestro. 2) Ella está cansada. 3) Él tiene tres hijos.
Simple exercises to build confidence
Exercise 1: Write five sentences about people you know using él or ella. Include a verb and one adjective or noun.
Example: Él es estudiante. Ella trabaja en el banco.
Exercise 2: Convert the sentences from singular to plural. Change él to ellos and ella to ellas, and adjust verbs and adjectives.
Example: Él es profesor. → Ellos son profesores.
Exercise 3: Read a short paragraph in Spanish (children’s story or simple news) and underline sentences about people. Identify each as using él, ella, or dropped subject.
Helpful classroom and digital prompts
When practicing with apps or in class, look for prompts like these. They are realistic and great for beginners.
Describe a photo: Ella está en el parque. Él lee un libro.
Complete the sentence: Él no … (comer / hablar / dormir)
Choose the correct verb: Ella … en la casa. (está / es)
Useful phrases for asking about he and she
If you want to ask about someone, these short questions are common and beginner-friendly.
¿Quién es él?
¿Quién es ella?
¿Dónde está él?
¿Cómo está ella?
¿Tiene él teléfono?
Quick pronunciation tips
él has a stressed vowel and a clear l sound; do not confuse it with el (the). The accent on él distinguishes he from the article.
ella is pronounced with a soft y-like sound between vowels in many Latin American accents: ey-ya, but keep it simple as eh-ya or eh-ya depending on region. Focus on clear vowels: e and a.
Pronunciation takeaways: Practice the accent on él and the vowel sounds in ella to avoid confusion with articles.
Conclusion
Mastering simple he and she sentences gives beginners a strong foundation. Focus on pronouns él and ella, verb choices like ser, estar, and tener, and adjective agreement. Practice with short dialogues, everyday examples, and the mini exercises here to build confidence quickly.
