If “ser” and “estar” feel like twins with different personalities—good! That’s exactly how they work in Portuguese. In this lesson, you’ll learn when to use each verb, see how meanings change with adjectives, and practice with quick, interactive exercises in everyday situations.

The big picture: identity vs state

Both “ser” and “estar” translate to “to be” in English, but they’re used differently:

• Ser = identity, essence, facts that don’t usually change
• Estar = location, temporary states, how you feel right now

Think: ser is about who/what something is; estar is about how/where it is.

Eu do Brasil.

When to use ser

Use “ser” for:

1. Identity and characteristics

• Ela é alta. (She is tall.)
• Nós somos amigos. (We are friends.)

2. Origin and material

• Eu sou de Portugal. (I am from Portugal.)
• O copo é de vidro. (The glass is made of glass.)

3. Profession (without articles in simple statements)

• Ele é médico. (He is a doctor.)

4. Time and dates

• São três horas. (It’s three o’clock.)
• Hoje é segunda-feira. (Today is Monday.)

5. Events (place/time of events)

• A reunião é no escritório. (The meeting is at the office.)

Tip: For everyday identity and facts, think “ser” = stable information.

When to use estar

Use “estar” for:

1. Location of people and things

• A escola está na Rua 7. (The school is on 7th Street.)
• Você está no trabalho? (Are you at work?)

2. Temporary states and emotions

• Estou feliz hoje. (I’m happy today.)
• Ele está doente. (He is sick [temporarily].)

3. Ongoing actions (progressive)

• BR: Estou estudando português. (I’m studying Portuguese.)
• PT (Europe): Estou a estudar português. (I’m studying Portuguese.)

Remember: estar answers “Where?” and “How right now?”

A escola na Rua 7.

Adjectives that change meaning with ser vs estar

Some adjectives change meaning depending on the verb:

• verde: ser verde = to be green (color); estar verde = unripe
• chato: ser chato = to be boring (as a trait); estar chato = being annoying today
• doente: ser doente = chronically ill; estar doente = sick now
• rico/pobre: ser rico/pobre = wealthy/poor in general; estar rico/pobre = temporarily (e.g., after winning/losing money)

This happens a lot—pay attention to context.

A loja é na Rua 10. → A loja está na Rua 10. Location of places/objects uses estar. Use ser only for event locations.

Real-world conversation: locating events vs people

Practice understanding which verb fits based on meaning.

Present tense forms you’ll use most

Here are the present tense forms of “ser” and “estar” in everyday Portuguese. Note: In Brazil, "você" is common; in Portugal, both "tu" and "você" are used depending on region and formality.

Agora são oito horas. A aula às oito.

Eu estou do Brasil. → Eu sou do Brasil. Origin is identity → use ser + de.

Quick review: ser vs estar

• Ser: identity, origin, profession, material, time/date, location of events
• Estar: location of people/things, temporary states and emotions, ongoing actions

When you choose between them, ask: Is this a stable fact or a current state/location?

Nós amigos há muito tempo.

Final practice ideas

• Describe your friends using ser (traits) and how they feel today using estar (states).
• Write 3 sentences with event time/place using ser.
• Write 3 sentences about where you are and how you feel using estar.

You’ve got this! With a few clear rules and daily practice, “ser” and “estar” will start to feel natural in your Portuguese.