Ser vs. Estar: Choosing the Right 'To Be'

Spanish has two verbs that both translate to “to be”: ser and estar. Choosing the right verb depends on whether you’re talking about a permanent characteristic or a temporary condition. This distinction can be confusing at first, but with practice you’ll get the hang of it.

Ser – Permanent or Essential Characteristics

Use ser to describe permanent or intrinsic qualities such as identity, origin, profession, and characteristics that define someone or something. For example, an article on Baselang explains that ser is used to express permanent qualities like personalities or nationalities. Here are some common uses:

• Identity/Profession: Ella es doctora (She is a doctor)
• Origin/Nationality: Somos de España (We are from Spain)
• Physical Traits: La casa es grande (The house is big)

Estar – Temporary States or Locations

Use estar to talk about conditions that can change, such as emotions, physical states, location, or ongoing actions. Baselang notes that estar expresses temporary conditions, locations, emotions and feelings. Examples include:

• Location: Estoy en la biblioteca (I am at the library)
• Emotions: María está de buen humor – María is in a good mood
• Ongoing Actions: Estamos estudiando (We are studying)

Examples

Compare the following sentences:

• María es una persona muy alegre. – María is a very cheerful person (her personality – permanent)
• María está de buen humor. – María is in a good mood (temporary emotion)

Remember: ser describes what something is, while estar describes how something is. When in doubt, ask yourself whether the quality is essential and permanent (use ser) or temporary and subject to change (use estar).