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Ser or estar? The two Spanish “to be”

Ser says what someone or something is. Estar says how or where it is right now.

SpanishLevel A1–A2

ser: what it is. estar: how or where it isLeft column ser, what it is: Soy Ana (name), Soy de México (origin), Es médica (job), Son las tres (time). Right column estar, how or where it is: Estoy cansado (feeling), Estoy en casa (place), Está comiendo (in progress), Está cerrado (state). Note: events take ser, as in La fiesta es en mi casa.serestarwhat it ISHOW / WHERE it isSoy Ana. nameSoy de México. originEs médica. jobSon las tres. timeEstoy cansado. feelingEstoy en casa. placeEstá comiendo. -ingEstá cerrado. stateWatch out: EVENTS take serLa fiesta es en mi casa.

Use ser for identity: name (Soy Ana), origin (Soy de México), job (Es médica), time (Son las tres). Use estar for states and location: feelings (Estoy cansado), place (Estoy en casa), actions in progress (Está comiendo), temporary states (Está cerrado). Watch out: the place of an event takes ser — La fiesta es en mi casa.

Same adjective, different meaninges aburrido means is boring; está aburrido means is bored. es listo means is clever; está listo means is ready.Same word, new meaninges aburridois boring≠está aburridois boredes listois clever≠está listois ready

Some adjectives change meaning: es aburrido = he is boring, está aburrido = he is bored; es listo = he is clever, está listo = he is ready.

Examples

  • Soy alérgico al marisco.

    I'm allergic to shellfish.

  • Estoy de camino.

    I'm on my way.

  • Mi hermana es profesora.

    My sister is a teacher.

  • ¿Dónde está el baño?

    Where is the bathroom?

  • La paella está muy rica.

    The paella is delicious.

  • La fiesta es en mi casa.

    The party is at my place.

Common mistake

Mistake: soy cansadoCrossed out: Soy cansado. Correct: Estoy cansado, because tired is a state. Crossed out: Está profesora. Correct: Es profesora, because a job takes ser.Soy cansado.Estoy cansado.tired = a stateEstá profesora.Es profesora.a job = ser

Wrong: Soy cansado. Right: Estoy cansado (I'm tired) — a feeling is a state, so estar. Wrong: Está profesora. Right: Es profesora (She's a teacher) — a job is identity, so ser.

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