Estar: where you are and how you feel
Vocalyra teaching team · Last updated:
Spanish splits to be into ser and estar. Estar handles the two most changeable parts of life: location and temporary condition. If it can move or change soon, estar is usually the verb.
Location, always estar
Physical locations normally use estar, even for things that never move: Madrid está en España, el baño está al fondo, estamos en casa. This overrides the temporary rule; a city is permanent and still takes estar. Events usually take ser for their location: la fiesta es en mi casa, the party is at my house.
Feelings and conditions
How someone is right now uses estar: estoy cansado, estás contenta, está enfermo, estamos ocupados. These states are expected to change. Compare the fixed tener phrases (tengo hambre), which cover hunger, thirst and cold; estar covers mood and condition adjectives.
| Estar (location or state) | Ser (identity or event) |
|---|---|
| El libro está en la mesa. | El libro es nuevo. |
| Estoy en casa. | La reunión es en la oficina. |
| Ella está cansada. | Ella es médica. |
| La sopa está frÃa. | La sopa es de verduras. |
| Estamos listos. | Somos estudiantes. |
Adjectives that change meaning
Some adjectives shift meaning with the verb: ser listo is to be clever, estar listo is to be ready; ser aburrido is to be boring, estar aburrido is to be bored; ser malo is to be bad or evil, estar malo is to be ill or off (food). Beginners should learn these pairs early because the mistake changes the message completely.
Estar also builds the progressive tenses with the gerund: estoy trabajando (I am working), estábamos cenando (we were having dinner). And it appears in fixed results of change: estar de vacaciones (to be on holiday), estar de moda (to be in fashion), estar de acuerdo (to agree). Death always takes estar, even though it is permanent: está muerto. When you hesitate, ask the two questions in order: is it a location? Is it a state that can change? One yes sends you to estar; two noes usually mean ser.
Quick self-check
Choose: La farmacia (es / está) a la derecha.
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está
Choose: Hoy (soy / estoy) muy contento.
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estoy
Choose: La boda (es / está) en la playa. (an event)
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es
Choose: Juan (es / está) listo: podemos salir. (ready)
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está