What’s the Difference Between Ser and Estar?

 

In Spanish, there are two verbs that mean “to be”: ser and estar.

 

Ser is used to describe WHAT something is—think of it as defining permanent or essential characteristics. It’s for things that are fundamental to the identity of a person, place, or object.

 

On the other hand, estar is used to describe HOW something is—this covers temporary states like conditions, locations, emotions, and actions.

 

Let’s break down ser vs. estar in more detail.

 

When to Use Ser

 

Ser is typically used in the following situations:

 

• Time (hour, day, and date)
• Place of origin
• Occupation or job title
• Nationality
• Religious or political affiliation
• Material composition (what something is made of)
• Possession or ownership
• Relationships between people
• The location of an event
• Essential qualities (what defines something)

 

When to Use Estar

 

On the flip side, estar is used in these cases:

 

• Geographic or physical location
• States or conditions (like feelings or emotions)
• Many idiomatic expressions
• Progressive tenses (like the -ing form in English)

 

Ser and Estar Conjugation

 

Both ser and estar are irregular verbs, so their conjugations need to be memorized. Below, you’ll find the present tense conjugations for each verb, as this tense is used in all our examples.

 

Present Tense of Ser:

 

• Yo soy (I am)
• Tú eres (You are)
• Él/ella, es (He/she is)
• Nosotros somos (We are)
• Ellos/ellas son (They are)

 

Present Tense of Estar:

 

• Yo estoy (I am)
• Tú estás (You are)
• Él/ella está (He/she is)
• Nosotros estamos (We are)
• Ellos/ellas están (They are)

Ser vs. Estar: A Mountain of Practical Examples

 

The best way to grasp the difference between ser and estar is by diving into lots of real-life examples. Here, we’ve compiled a comprehensive list of situations to help you see exactly when to use each verb.

 

Example 1: Describing a Person

 

Ser: María is a happy person.
María es una persona muy alegre.

Being happy is part of María’s personality, so we use ser because it’s a permanent trait.

 

Estar: María is in a good mood.
María está de buen humor.

Mood is temporary and changes throughout the day, so we use estar.

 

Example 2: Event Location

 

Ser: The soccer game is at the stadium.
El juego de fútbol es en el estadio.

We use ser to indicate where an event takes place.

 

Estar: The stadium is downtown.
El estadio está en el centro de la ciudad.

Estar is used to describe the physical location of something, even if it seems permanent.

 

Example 3: Describing Relationships

 

Ser: Carlos and Gabriela are spouses.
Carlos y Gabriela son esposos.

We use ser to describe their relationship.

 

Estar: Carlos and Gabriela are married.
Carlos y Gabriela están casados.

Here, we talk about their marital status, which is seen as a condition, so we use estar.

 

Example 4: Discussing Appearance

 

Ser: She is very pretty.
Ella es muy bonita.

We’re describing a permanent characteristic, so we use ser.

 

Estar: She looks beautiful tonight.
Ella está muy hermosa esta noche.

Here, the beauty is temporary, so we use estar.

 

Example 5: Talking About Origin and Location

 

Ser: We are from NYC.
Nosotros somos de NYC.

Ser is used to describe someone’s origin, a permanent trait.

 

Estar: We are traveling to Australia.
Nosotros estamos en un viaje por Australia.

Estar describes the current, temporary situation.

 

Example 6: Discussing Marital Status

 

Ser: She is a mother.
Ella es una madre.

Ser indicates a permanent characteristic.

 

Estar: She is married.
Ella está casada.

Estar is used here for marital status, a condition.

 

Example 7: Describing Fruits

 

Ser: The apple is green.
La manzana es verde.

This describes the apple’s color, which is a permanent feature.

 

Estar: The banana is green (not ripe).
La banana está verde.

Estar is used because the banana’s greenness is temporary.

 

Example 8: Nationality vs. Location

 

Ser: I am from Colombia.
Yo soy de Colombia.

We use ser to describe nationality, a permanent trait.

 

Estar: I am in Spain.
Yo estoy en España.

Estar is used for current location, which is temporary.

 

Example 9: Discussing Food

 

Ser: The soup is delicious at that restaurant.
En ese restaurante la sopa es muy sabrosa.

Here, ser is used to describe the soup’s characteristic flavor.

 

Estar: The soup is cold.
La sopa está fría.

Estar describes the soup’s current state, which is temporary.

 

Example 10: Describing Temperature (Literal vs. Figurative)

 

Ser: She is cold (personality).
Ella es fría.

When describing someone’s cold personality, we use ser.

 

Estar: She is cold (body temperature).
Ella está fría.

When talking about physical coldness, we use estar.

 

Situation 11: Discussing Death

 

Ser: Santiago is a dead man.
Santiago es hombre muerto.

Here, ser is used because Santiago’s death is a looming certainty, not yet a reality. It’s figurative, implying he’s marked for death by someone dangerous.

 

Estar: John Lennon is dead.
John Lennon está muerto.

While death is permanent, estar is the correct verb to use when stating that someone has passed away. It’s an exception to the usual rule.

 

Situation 12: Talking About Age

 

Ser: My grandpa is young; he’s only 45.
Mi abuelo es joven, apenas tiene 45 años.

We use ser to describe someone’s actual age, a permanent characteristic.

 

Estar: My grandfather looks young for his age.
Mi abuelo está joven para su edad.

Here, estar is used to express that someone appears younger than they actually are, which is a temporary state.

 

Situation 13: Describing Athleticism

 

Ser: Renata is a very athletic person.
Renata es una persona muy deportiva.

Ser is used because athleticism is a core aspect of Renata’s identity.

 

Estar: Renata is very tired after exercising.
Renata está muy cansada de hacer ejercicio.

We use estar to describe Renata’s current state of fatigue, which is temporary.

 

Situation 14: Discussing Beauty

 

Ser: Paula is beautiful.
Paula es hermosa.

Here, ser is used to describe Paula’s inherent beauty, a permanent characteristic.

 

Estar: Paula looks beautiful today.
Paula está hermosa hoy.

Estar is used to describe Paula’s appearance at a specific moment.

 

Situation 15: Origin vs. Current Location

 

Ser: Edward is from Venezuela.
Edward es de Venezuela.

Ser is used to describe Edward’s origin, a permanent part of his identity.

 

Estar: Edward is in Barcelona.
Edward está en Barcelona.

Estar is used to describe Edward’s current location, which is temporary.

 

Situation 16: Identifying a Person

 

Ser: Who is the teacher?
¿Quién es la profesora?

When identifying someone’s role or profession, we use ser.

 

Estar: Where is the teacher?
¿Dónde está la profesora?

Estar is used to ask about someone’s current location.

 

Situation 17: States of an Object

 

Ser: The ice is cold.
El hielo es frío.

Ser is used because coldness is an inherent quality of ice.

 

Estar: The water is cold.
El agua está fría.

Water’s temperature can vary, so we use estar to describe its current state.

 

Situation 18: Describing an Object

 

Ser: The seatbelts are important.
Los cinturones de seguridad son importantes.

Ser is used to describe the essential importance of seatbelts, a permanent quality.

 

Estar: The seatbelts are in the car.
Los cinturones de seguridad están en el carro.

Estar is used to describe the seatbelts’ location.

 

Situation 19: Profession and Location

 

Ser: I am an astronaut.
Soy un astronauta.

We use ser because a profession is considered a permanent aspect of identity.

 

Estar: I am in space.
Estoy en el espacio.

Estar is used to describe the astronaut’s current, temporary location.

 

Situation 20: Describing Characteristics

 

Ser: I am a sleepy person.
Yo soy una persona dormilona.

Ser is used to describe a permanent characteristic.

 

Estar: I am in bed.
Estoy en cama.

Estar is used for describing your current location, which is temporary.