🔤 Grammar
Ser vs. estar — the two 'to be' verbs
Spanish has two verbs for 'to be'. Ser describes essential, permanent traits (identity, origin, profession). Estar describes temporary states and locations. Getting this pair right is the biggest early win in Spanish.
When to use ser
Identity, nationality, profession, physical description, time. Soy Ana. Soy española. Soy profesora. Son las tres.
When to use estar
Feelings, location, temporary states, ongoing actions. Estoy cansado. La casa está en Madrid. Estoy comiendo.
Conjugation tables
Ser and estar — present tense
| Pronoun | ser | estar | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| yo | soy | estoy | I am |
| tú | eres | estás | you are (informal) |
| él / ella / usted | es | está | he / she / you (formal) |
| nosotros | somos | estamos | we are |
| vosotros | sois | estáis | you all (Spain) |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | son | están | they / you all |
Examples
- Soy de España.I'm from Spain. (origin → ser)
- Estoy en casa.I'm at home. (location → estar)
- Ella es alta.She is tall. (trait → ser)
- Ella está triste.She's sad. (mood → estar)
Practice
Match each pronoun to the correct form of ser.
Tap a ser below, then tap the pronoun it belongs to — or drag it.
Pronoun
ser
Match each pronoun to the correct form of estar.
Tap a estar below, then tap the pronoun it belongs to — or drag it.
Pronoun
estar