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Guide · A1–A2 · 5 min read
Ser vs estar: the rule that actually works
The short answer
Use ser for what something is: who someone is, what they do, where they’re from, what something is like by nature, and the time. Use estar for where something is and how it is right now: location, feelings, states that change, and actions in progress (estoy comiendo).
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Key points
- Ser = what it is. Estar = where it is and how it is right now.
- Location takes estar: Estoy en casa. Identity takes ser: Soy tu amigo.
- Feelings and temporary states take estar: Estoy cansado.
- Some adjectives change meaning: es aburrido (boring) but está aburrido (bored).
Two verbs for “to be”
English has one verb for “to be”. Spanish has two, and they aren’t interchangeable. The good news: one question sorts out almost every sentence. Are you saying what something is, or where and how it is right now?
| ser | estar | |
|---|---|---|
| yo | soy | estoy |
| tú | eres | estás |
| él / ella / usted | es | está |
| nosotros | somos | estamos |
| vosotros | sois | estáis |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | son | están |
Both are irregular, so they’re worth learning by heart: soy, eres, es and estoy, estás, está come up in almost every conversation. The full tables are here: ser and estar.
Use ser for what something is
Ser describes identity: who or what something is, and what it’s like by nature. If it would still be true tomorrow, it’s usually ser.
- Soy tu amigo.I am your friend.
- Madrid es una ciudad grande.Madrid is a big city.
- Es verdad.It’s true.
Memory hookA classic memory aid: ser is for DOCTOR: Description, Occupation, Characteristic, Time, Origin, Relationship.
Use estar for where and how
Estar describes location, and states that come and go: how someone feels, what condition something is in, what’s happening right now.
- Estoy en casa.I am at home.
- El coche está en la calle.The car is in the street.
- Estoy cansado.I’m tired.
- Estamos cocinando.We’re cooking.
Memory hookThe partner to DOCTOR: estar is for PLACE: Position, Location, Action, Condition, Emotion.
Two exceptions worth knowing
Where a person or thing is, is always estar, even for things that never move: it’s about where something is, not how long it stays there.
- ¿Dónde está la estación?Where is the station?
Where an event takes place is ser. A party, a class or a meeting “is” somewhere because the event itself is what you’re identifying: La fiesta es en mi casa (the party is at my house).
Same adjective, different meaning
A few adjectives mean one thing with ser and another with estar. These are the ones learners trip over:
| Adjective | With ser | With estar |
|---|---|---|
| aburrido | boring | bored |
| listo | clever | ready |
| rico | rich | tasty |
| malo | bad | ill |
- En mi opinión, el libro es aburrido.In my opinion, the book is boring.
- El niño está malo.The boy is ill.
Quick check
1 Yo ___ en casa. (I am at home.)
estoy: Where you are: location takes estar.
2 Yo ___ tu amigo. (I am your friend.)
soy: Who you are: identity takes ser.
3 El pan ___ en la mesa. (The bread is on the table.)
está: Where it is: estar.
4 Mi madre ___ cansada. (My mother is tired.)
está: A state that comes and goes: estar.
Tap a question to check your answer.
Practise this in Huerta
These levels teach it, with every word and example reviewed at just the right moment:
Questions
Is it ser or estar for feelings?
Estar. Feelings and moods change, so they take estar: estoy cansado, estamos contentos, ¿estás bien?
Is it ser or estar for location?
Estar for where something or someone is: estoy en casa, el coche está en la calle. The one exception is where an event takes place, which uses ser: la fiesta es en mi casa.
Why is it “es verdad” and not “está verdad”?
Because it says what something is (true), not where or how it is right now. Facts and identity take ser.
Keep reading
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- A1 · 5 min readEl or la? How to tell a Spanish noun’s genderHow to tell if a Spanish noun is masculine or feminine: the endings that tell you, the exceptions (el día, la mano, el agua) and the habit that fixes it.