Ser vs Estar Made Easy: When to Use Spain’s Two “To Be” Verbs
Spanish has two verbs that mean “to be”: ser and estar. If that feels confusing, you’re in the right place! In this lesson, you’ll learn simple, A2-friendly rules, see lots of real-world examples, and practice with interactive exercises so you can choose ser or estar confidently.
The big idea: permanent vs. temporary
- Ser: identity, origin, time/date, professions, inherent characteristics.
- Estar: location, temporary states/conditions, feelings, ongoing actions (estar + gerund).
Think of ser as "what something is" and estar as "how/where something is (right now)."
| Pronoun | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| yo | soy |
| tú | eres |
| él/ella/usted | es |
| nosotros/nosotras | somos |
| vosotros/vosotras | sois |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | son |
| Pronoun | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| yo | estoy |
| tú | estás |
| él/ella/usted | está |
| nosotros/nosotras | estamos |
| vosotros/vosotras | estáis |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | están |
Quick examples
Below are everyday sentences you’ll hear often. Notice how ser describes identity or permanent traits, while estar shows location or a current state.
Try it: choose the right form
Fill in the blanks with the correct present form of ser or estar.
Mi hermana profesora.
Hoy cansado.
La fiesta en el parque.
Adjectives and meaning changes
Some adjectives change meaning depending on ser or estar. This is super common and worth learning early.
Common mistakes to avoid
Soy casado. → Estoy casado. Marital status is considered a state → use estar. La ciudad es en México. → La ciudad está en México. Use estar for location (except events). Estoy profesor. → Soy profesor. Profession uses ser.Mini quiz: ser or estar?
Choose the best option. Then read the explanation.
Location vs. event locations
A classic trap: use estar for where things/people are, but use ser for where/when events happen.
- La biblioteca está cerca. (Place location → estar)
- El concierto es en la plaza. (Event location → ser)
Let’s practice with a short conversation.
Professions and origin with ser
Use ser to talk about who you are professionally and where you’re from.
- Soy profesor de historia.
- Mi amiga es ingeniera.
- Somos de Chile.
Try to build a sentence with profession and origin.
Put the words in a natural order.
Everyday phrases you’ll use
- ¿Cómo estás? (How are you?) → estar for current feeling
- ¿Cómo eres? (What are you like?) → ser for personality
- Estoy cansado, pero soy trabajador. (I’m tired, but I’m a hard worker.)
- ¿Dónde está el baño? (Where is the bathroom?)
- La clase es a las nueve. (Class is at nine.)
Practice: quick fill
Choose ser or estar in context.
Madrid en España.
Ellos amigos desde la infancia.
El café muy rico hoy.
Culture tip
You’ll hear ¿Cómo estás? all the time for “How are you?” because it asks about your current state. If someone asks ¿Cómo eres?, they want your general characteristics: “I’m friendly, I’m calm…” Also, in all Spanish-speaking regions, the event rule is consistent: La boda es en la iglesia; El partido es a las 6.
Finally, when meeting people, you might say: Soy Juan. Mucho gusto. Then, to explain where you are: Estoy en Madrid por trabajo. Both verbs show up naturally in introductions.
Wrap-up
- Ser = identity, origin, time/date, professions, defining traits.
- Estar = location, temporary states/feelings, ongoing actions.
- Special: events use ser for place and time.
Keep these in mind, and practice a little every day. You’re ready to use both verbs in real conversations. ¡Tú estás listo y eres capaz!