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Spanish grammar · Level A1–A2

Ser vs estar: two ways to say “to be”

Spanish has two verbs for “to be”. Ser tells you what or who something is: origin, job, character, material, time. Estar tells you how or where it is: condition, mood, location. Soy profesora y estoy cansada — I’m a teacher and I’m tired.

QuizContents
Contents
  1. Ser and estar conjugated
  2. When to use ser
  3. When to use estar
  4. Adjectives that change meaning
  5. Common mistakes
  6. Quiz
  7. FAQ

Ser and estar conjugated

Both verbs are irregular. The subject pronoun is usually dropped — the ending shows the person: soy — I am, están — they are.

Ser and estar in the present
Personserestar
yosoyestoy
túeresestás
él / ella / ustedesestá
nosotrossomosestamos
vosotrossoisestáis
ellos / ellas / ustedessonestán

When to use ser

Ser is for what defines a person or thing: name and origin (Soy Ana, soy de Lviv), job (Es médico), character and looks (Es simpática, es alto), material and ownership (La mesa es de madera, el libro es de Juan), time and date (Son las tres, hoy es lunes), a total price (¿Cuánto es?) and where an event takes place (El concierto es en el parque).

  • Soy de Ucrania, de Odesa.I’m from Ukraine, from Odesa.
  • Mi hermano es ingeniero.My brother is an engineer.
  • Son las ocho y media.It’s half past eight.
  • La boda es en Málaga.The wedding is in Málaga.

When to use estar

Estar is for what can change or describes the situation now: how you feel (Estoy cansado, está contenta), where people and things are (Estoy en casa, ¿dónde está el baño?), the state of things (La puerta está abierta, la sopa está fría), the progressive with a gerund (Estoy trabajando) and estar bien / mal.

  • ¿Dónde está la estación?Where is the station?
  • Hoy estoy un poco triste.I’m a bit sad today.
  • El café está frío.The coffee is cold.
  • Estamos cenando.We’re having dinner.

Tip: The “permanent vs temporary” rule doesn’t always work: estar muerto (to be dead) is forever, while ser joven doesn’t last. It’s safer to ask: is it a definition (ser) or a state or location (estar)?

Adjectives that change meaning

Some adjectives mean different things with ser and estar. Ser describes a trait; estar a state at the moment.

Ser or estar: different meanings
Adjectiveserestar
listocleverready
aburridoboringbored
malobadill
ricorichtasty
verdegreenunripe
  • Mi hijo es muy listo.My son is very clever.
  • ¿Estás listo? Nos vamos.Are you ready? We’re leaving.
  • La paella está muy rica.The paella is delicious.

Common mistakes

The mistakes people make most often — and the right way.

  • Wrong: Soy cansado.

    Right: Estoy cansado.

    Tiredness is a state: estar.

  • Wrong: Madrid es en España.

    Right: Madrid está en España.

    Where something is located: estar.

  • Wrong: Estoy profesora.

    Right: Soy profesora.

    A profession takes ser.

  • Wrong: Está la una.

    Right: Es la una.

    Time always takes ser.

  • Wrong: La fiesta está en mi casa.

    Right: La fiesta es en mi casa.

    Where an event takes place: ser.

Ser vs estar

Quiz

10 questions: choose the right option — the explanation appears straight away.

  1. Question 1

    Yo _____ de Ucrania.

  2. Question 2

    ¿Dónde _____ mis llaves?

  3. Question 3

    Hoy _____ muy cansada.

  4. Question 4

    Mi padre _____ médico.

  5. Question 5

    _____ las cinco de la tarde.

  6. Question 6

    La sopa _____ fría.

  7. Question 7

    El concierto _____ en el estadio.

  8. Question 8

    Nosotros _____ hablando por teléfono.

  9. Question 9

    Esta mesa _____ de madera.

  10. Question 10

    ¿_____ listo? Nos vamos ya.

Correct: 0 of 10

Read next

FAQ

Didn’t find your answer? Send us a request — we’ll tell you everything.

How can I quickly tell ser from estar?

Ask yourself: is it a definition of the person or thing (who, what like, where from, when) — ser; or a condition or location (how it is, where it is now) — estar. Soy alegre — I’m a cheerful person; estoy alegre — I feel happy right now.

Why “Madrid está en España” but “la fiesta es en mi casa”?

Where people and things are is estar. An event (party, concert, meeting) doesn’t sit somewhere, it takes place — so ser: El examen es en el aula 5.

Is hay another “to be”?

Hay means “there is/are”: it says something exists, usually new to the listener: Hay un banco cerca. When we already know the thing and say where it is, use estar: El banco está en la plaza.

Other topics

All topicsSpanish verb conjugationSpanish irregular verbs

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