Spanish · B1 · Family moment
Care Happening Around You in Spanish
In Spanish, describing actions currently being performed on someone or something often involves the Passive Progressive. This structure shifts the focus from 'who' is doing the action to 'what' is being done, making it ideal for narrating care routines to your baby.
What you'll learn
- Understand the 'estar + siendo + participio' construction for ongoing processes.
- Use the 'pasiva refleja' (se + verb) to describe impersonal care actions.
- Correctly match the gender and number of past participles to the subject.
Spanish phrases for care happening around you
Tu biberón se está lavando en la cocina.
Your bottle is being cleaned in the kitchen.
Uses 'se está + gerund' for a natural, impersonal way to say something is happening.
Se te está cambiando el pañal antes del paseo.
Your nappy is being changed before our walk.
'Se te está' is a common way to say something is being done to the child.
Se está comprobando el agua del baño antes de que entres.
The bath water is being checked before you get in.
'Antes de que entres' requires the subjunctive 'entres' because it's a future possibility.
Tu almuerzo se está machacando con un tenedor.
Your lunch is being mashed with a fork.
'Machacar' is frequently used for mashing food like potatoes or fruit.
Tu ropa limpia se está guardando en el cajón.
Your clean clothes are being put in the drawer.
'Guardar' is the common verb for putting things away or storing them.
El carrito se está plegando junto a la puerta.
The pram is being folded beside the door.
'Plegar' means to fold; 'carrito' is the common term for a pram/stroller.
Se te está pesando en tu revisión médica.
You are being weighed at your check-up.
'Revisión' is the standard word for a medical check-up or appointment.
Tu canción de cuna se está cantando muy suavemente.
Your bedtime song is being sung very softly.
'Canción de cuna' is the literal term for a lullaby.
Hear these phrases and practise them
Tildi plays every phrase out loud, tests you in five-minute lessons and builds them into bedtime stories from your own picture books.
Try it free for 7 daysKey words
Biberón
Baby bottle
In some regions, 'mamila' or 'tetero' is also used.
Pañal
Nappy / Diaper
A singular masculine noun.
Carrito
Pram / Stroller
Diminutive of 'carro' (cart).
Machacar
To mash / To crush
Often used for food preparation.
The Passive Progressive (Continuous)
To describe an action currently in progress where the agent is not the focus, use 'estar + siendo + past participle'. The participle must agree in gender and number with the subject.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Structure | Subject + estar + siendo + participio | La cena está siendo preparada. |
| Impersonal Se | Se + está + gerundio | Se está preparando la cena. |
More examples
La leche está siendo calentada ahora mismo.
The milk is being warmed up right now.
Uses the formal passive progressive structure.
Se están doblando las mantas.
The blankets are being folded.
Notice the plural verb 'están' to match 'las mantas'.
El puré se está enfriando un poco.
The puree is being cooled (is cooling) down a bit.
Using 'se' for processes that happen naturally or impersonally.