Spanish Phrase
¿Esto está fresco?
Meaning
Literally “Is this fresh?” The speaker is asking whether the item in hand—usually food or a drink—is still fresh, not stale or spoiled. The question focuses on a temporary condition, so the verb estar is required.
When to use
Use this phrase at a market, grocery store, restaurant, or any situation where you need to confirm the freshness of a product before buying or consuming it. It works in both casual and polite contexts.
✦Grammar Breakdown
¿Estoestáfresco?
Esto (demonstrative pronoun)
Used to point to something near the speaker; it translates to “this”.
Estar (temporary state)
The verb estar describes conditions that can change, such as freshness, temperature, or mood.
Fresco (adjective)
Means “fresh” and agrees in gender and number with the noun it describes; here it is masculine singular.
Question marks (¿ ?)
Spanish requires an opening inverted question mark (¿) and a closing one (?).
🗨In Conversation
¿Esto está fresco?
Is this fresh?
Sí, lo acaban de cortar esta mañana.
Yes, it was just cut this morning.
✕Common Mistakes
¿Esto es fresco?
Use estar, not ser, because freshness is a temporary condition.
¿Esto está fresca?
The adjective must match the gender of the noun; “esto” is masculine, so use “fresco”.
Esto está fresco?
Don’t forget the opening inverted question mark (¿) and the accent on “está”.
↔Alternatives
¿Esto es fresco?
Is this fresh?
¿Está fresco?
Is it fresh?
¿Esto está recién hecho?
Is this freshly made?
Cultural Tip
In many Spanish‑speaking countries, “fresco” can also describe the weather (e.g., “hace fresco”). When talking about food, native speakers often ask about freshness before buying, especially for fish, meat, and produce. Keep the tone friendly; a simple smile and “por favor” can make the request sound more polite.