Ser vs estar
Type the missing word in each sentence. You hear each sentence read by a native voice.
Ana.
I am Ana.
The rule
Spanish has two verbs where English has one “be”. “Ser” says what something is: identity, origin, and lasting qualities. “Estar” says where something is and how it is right now. The same adjective can take either verb and change meaning with it.
Two ways to say “be”
In English, we use the verb “be” both to say who someone is and to say where they are: “I am Ana” and “I am at home”. Spanish uses two different verbs for these ideas: “ser” and “estar”. Both can mean “be”, but they do different jobs.
When Ana introduces herself, she says “Soy Ana”, “I am Ana”. Here, “soy” comes from “ser”: she is saying who she is.
When she tells you where she is, she says “Estoy en casa”, “I am at home”. Here, “estoy” comes from “estar”: she is giving her location.
That is our starting point: identifying someone and locating them use different verbs. We can now build on it to describe what someone is like and how they feel.
Who someone is; where or how they are
“Ser” is the dictionary form behind “soy” and “es”. Use it to identify someone or say what something is: “Ana es médica” means “Ana is a doctor”.
“Estar” is the dictionary form behind “estoy” and “está”. Use it to say where someone or something is, or describe their condition: “Ana está en casa” means “Ana is at home”. “Ana está cansada” means “Ana is tired”.
Here are the forms used in this lesson. Like other Spanish verbs, they change with the person.
| Who? | “ser” | “estar” |
|---|---|---|
| I | “soy” | “estoy” |
| you: “tú” | “eres” | “estás” |
| he, she, formal you | “es” | “está” |
| we | “somos” | “estamos” |
| they, you all | “son” | “están” |
The accent is part of “está”: notice it when you read and write the word.
The same description can change meaning
“Ana es aburrida” means “Ana is boring”: you are describing her as a person. “Ana está aburrida” means “Ana is bored”: you are describing how she feels.
Both sentences are grammatical. Choose the one that says what you mean. The English cue in practice will make that meaning clear.
Some descriptions change their ending to match the person: “Ana está cansada”, but “Luis está cansado”. Both “cansada” and “cansado” mean “tired”. That ending is a separate choice from “ser” or “estar”.
Places, and one useful distinction
For the location of a person or thing, use “estar”: “Ana está en Madrid”. “Ana is in Madrid.” “Madrid está en España”. “Madrid is in Spain.”
But when you say where an event takes place, use “ser”: “La fiesta es en casa”. “The party is at home.” You are saying where the party happens.
Do not reduce the choice to permanent versus temporary. Madrid's location is stable, yet it takes “está”. Ask what you are saying: what something is, where it is, how it is, or where an event happens.
What to take into practice
Use “ser” for identity and the location of an event. Use “estar” for the location of a person or thing, and for the conditions we have looked at.
The practice stays in the present and uses the forms above. “Médica” means “doctor”, “cansado” means “tired”, “aburrida” can mean “boring” or “bored”, and “fiesta” means “party”. Each question gives enough meaning to choose.