Ser vs Estar
In Spanish, ser and estar both translate as "to be," but they serve different functions: ser marks more lasting or defining qualities while estar marks temporary states, locations, and conditions.
☕Audio Example
Esta mañana pedí un café doble.
🍞Audio Example
El aroma del pan recién horneado llenó la calle.
Ser
Use ser to express identity, origin, time, possession, material, and intrinsic characteristics that define someone or something.
☕Audio Example
El café de la tienda es de un pequeño productor local.
Examples
| Spanish Example | English Translation | Usage |
|---|---|---|
| ☕ La mujer de rojo es arquitecta. | The woman in red is an architect. | Identity/Profession |
| 🏢 El edificio es de cristal brillante. | The building is made of shining glass. | Material/Intrinsic characteristic |
| 📅 Hoy es viernes y el ambiente está alegre. | Today is Friday and the atmosphere is cheerful. | Time / Mood |
| 🌳 El parque es colorido y acogedor. | The park is colorful and welcoming. | Defining trait |
| 🚗 El coche del hombre es elegante y moderno. | The man's car is elegant and modern. | Possession |
| Spanish Example | English Translation |
|---|---|
| ☕ El café es de Colombia. | The coffee is from Colombia. |
| 🏠 La casa es de madera. | The house is made of wood. |
| 👩🏻🌾 Ella es agricultora. | She is a farmer. |
| 📅 Hoy es viernes. | Today is Friday. |
| 🌳 El árbol es muy alto. | The tree is very tall. |
Expressions
| Spanish Example | English Translation |
|---|---|
| ☝️ Es importante. | It’s important. |
| ✅ Es posible. | It’s possible. |
| ❌ Es imposible. | It’s impossible. |
| ⏰ Es tarde. | It’s late. |
| 🌅 Es temprano. | It’s early. |
| 🎉 Es divertido. | It’s fun. |
| ⚠️ Es peligroso. | It’s dangerous. |
| 🛠️ Es necesario. | It’s necessary. |
| 👍 Es bueno. | It’s good. |
| 👎 Es malo. | It’s bad. |
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| Spanish Expression | English Meaning |
|---|---|
| ✔️ Es importante | It’s important |
| 🕒 Es tarde | It’s late |
| ⏰ Es temprano | It’s early |
| 🎉 Es mi cumpleaños | It’s my birthday |
| ⚠️ Es peligroso | It’s dangerous |
Estar
Use estar to describe temporary conditions, locations, feelings, and ongoing actions with the gerund; it highlights states that can change.
☕Audio Example
La taza está caliente, así que espera un momento antes de beber.
Examples
| Spanish Example | English Translation | Usage |
|---|---|---|
| 🍰 La mujer está comiendo pastel. | The woman is eating cake. | Temporary action |
| ☕ El café en la terraza está muy caliente. | The coffee on the terrace is very hot. | Temporary state |
| 💡 Las luces de la calle están encendidas. | The street lights are on. | Condition |
| 🐶 El perro está corriendo por la plaza. | The dog is running through the square. | Ongoing action |
| 🧳 Los turistas están cansados después del paseo. | The tourists are tired after the walk. | Feeling |
| Spanish Example | English Translation |
|---|---|
| ☕ El café está caliente. | The coffee is hot. |
| 🚜 La maquinaria está funcionando. | The machinery is working. |
| 🧑🏻🌾 Ellos están cosechando. | They are harvesting. |
| 🗺️ El camión está en el camino. | The truck is on the road. |
| 🧴 Las semillas están en la bolsa. | The seeds are in the bag. |
Expressions
| Spanish Example | English Translation |
|---|---|
| 🔒 Está cerrado. | It’s closed. |
| 🔓 Está abierto. | It’s open. |
| 🏃 Está ocupado. | He/She is busy. |
| 😴 Está cansado. | He/She is tired. |
| 🤒 Está enfermo. | He/She is sick. |
| 📍 Está lejos. | It’s far. |
| 📌 Está cerca. | It’s nearby. |
| 🧍 Está de pie. | He/She is standing. |
| 🪑 Está sentado. | He/She is sitting. |
| ✅ Está listo. | It’s ready. |
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| Spanish Expression | English Meaning |
|---|---|
| ✔️ Está listo | It’s ready |
| 🔒 Está cerrado | It’s closed |
| 🔑 Está abierto | It’s open |
| 🏠 Está lejos | It’s far |
| 📍 Está cerca | It’s nearby |
Special Adjectives
Some adjectives change meaning depending on whether you use ser or estar, so swapping the verb can change the sentence's sense from inherent quality to temporary condition.
🍰Audio Example
El pastel es delicioso por su receta tradicional.
🎂Audio Example
El pastel está delicioso hoy; la chef añadió una pizca extra de vainilla.
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Summary
Remember: use ser for defining traits and identity, and estar for locations and temporary states; paying attention to small differences will improve your nuance in Spanish.
🌞Audio Example
Después de un buen desayuno en la cafetería, el día comienza mejor.
Last updated: Sun Sep 14, 2025