However, it can have different meanings depending on the context:
* "The state" as in a political entity: "El estado de California" would be "the state of California".
* "The state" as in a condition or situation: "El estado de la economía" would be "the state of the economy".
* "The government": This is a less common translation, but it can be used in some contexts.
To understand the exact meaning of "el estado" in a sentence, consider the context and surrounding words.