Ser or estar? How to choose in Spanish
Vocalyra teaching team · Last updated:
Spanish has two verbs for to be. The old rule of permanent versus temporary works often, but it fails in important cases, so it helps to learn the uses that decide the choice.
Main uses of ser
- Identity and definition: Soy Ana. Es profesora.
- Origin and nationality: Somos de Chile.
- Time, dates and prices in total: Son las tres. Hoy es lunes. Son veinte euros.
- Characteristics seen as part of the thing: La casa es grande. Es simpático.
- Where an event takes place: La fiesta es en mi casa.
Main uses of estar
- Location of people and things: Estoy en Madrid. El libro está en la mesa.
- States and feelings: Estoy cansada. Están contentos.
- Results of a change: La puerta está abierta.
- Progressive tenses with gerund: Estamos comiendo.
Location breaks the permanent rule: Madrid está en España uses estar even though the city will not move. Events break it the other way: el concierto es en el parque uses ser.
Adjectives that change meaning
| Adjective | With ser | With estar |
|---|---|---|
| listo | es listo: he is clever | está listo: he is ready |
| aburrido | es aburrido: it is boring | está aburrido: he is bored |
| malo | es malo: it is bad | está malo: he is ill |
| rico | es rico: he is rich | está rico: it tastes good |
| verde | es verde: it is green | está verde: it is unripe |
Tips for English, French and Portuguese speakers
English and French have one verb, so learners tend to overuse ser. Portuguese also has ser and estar with very similar uses, which is a real advantage, but note that location of fixed places often uses ficar in Portuguese and estar in Spanish. Practise with short pairs: es aburrido, está aburrido.
A quick test before you choose
Ask yourself what the sentence is doing. If it says what something is, where it comes from, or when and where an event happens, choose ser. If it says where something is or how someone feels right now, choose estar. Marital status is a known exception that varies: both es casado and está casado are common, and estar is more usual in everyday speech in many countries.
Quick self-check
Complete: Mis padres ___ en casa.
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Están. Location uses estar.
Complete: La reunión ___ en la sala 3.
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Es. Where an event happens uses ser.
What does La sopa está rica mean?
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The soup tastes good.
Complete: Hoy ___ martes.
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Es. Days and dates use ser.