Spanish grammar
Ser vs estar: when to use each
English has one verb, to be. Spanish has two, and choosing the right one changes the meaning. Here is the rule and the exceptions people trip on.
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Spanish · lesson preview
Step 4¿Dónde está la estación?
Where is the station?
- Order
- Translate
- Listen
- Speak
Say it out loud. Green landed, yellow was close.
Start freeUse ser for identity and lasting traits
- Who or what someone is: Soy profesor.
- Origin and nationality: Ella es de México.
- Time and dates: Son las tres. Hoy es lunes.
- Lasting qualities: La casa es grande.
- Where an event takes place: La fiesta es en mi casa.
Use estar for state, place and actions in progress
- Where something is: Madrid está en España.
- How someone feels or what condition something is in: Estoy cansado. El café está frío.
- Actions in progress: Estoy estudiando.
The memory trick
DOCTOR for ser: Description, Occupation, Characteristic, Time, Origin, Relationship. PLACE for estar: Position, Location, Action, Condition, Emotion. It is a crutch, but it works for almost every sentence you will need.
Same adjective, different meaning
Some adjectives change meaning with the verb. Es aburrido means he is boring, but está aburrido means he is bored. Es listo means he is clever, but está listo means he is ready.
Examples you can play
| Meaning · why | Spanish |
|---|---|
| I am a teacher. · ser: what you are | Soy profesor. |
| I am tired. · estar: a state, not a trait | Estoy cansado. |
| She is from Mexico. · ser: origin | Ella es de México. |
| The coffee is cold. · estar: condition right now | El café está frío. |
| The party is at my house. · ser: where an event happens | La fiesta es en mi casa. |
| Madrid is in Spain. · estar: location of a place | Madrid está en España. |
| He is boring. · ser: a trait | Es aburrido. |
| He is bored. · estar: how he feels | Está aburrido. |
Mistakes to avoid
- Using ser for where something is. Say El libro está en la mesa, not es en la mesa.
- Using estar for a profession. Say Soy médico, not estoy médico.
- Treating one as permanent and the other as temporary. It is closer to what it is versus how it is, which is why a dead person is dead with estar (está muerto).
More on learning Spanish: start Spanish free.
Is ser permanent and estar temporary?
That is a useful first guess but not the real rule. Ser names what something is and estar describes its state or place. Dead uses estar even though it is permanent, and some temporary things use ser, such as the time.
Which one do I use for location?
Estar, for where a person or thing is. The exception is an event: use ser for where it takes place.
Can I use ser with feelings?
Usually no. Feelings and moods use estar: estoy contento, estoy triste.
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