Ser vs Estar Explained: Charts and Key Differences

Learning when to use ser and estar is a big deal for anyone learning Spanish. Both verbs translate as "to be" in English, but they come with their own unique contexts, and this is why many students scratch their heads over ser vs. estar. 

In this guide, we'll break down the conjugations of ser and estar, and explore their differences. Plus, we've got some handy charts and practical examples to make it all crystal clear. And don't miss out—there's a bonus surprise waiting for you at the end of the article! 

Goggles on! Ready for a swim in the Spanish Grammar Sea? 

Ser or Estar, That Is the Question! 

Ser and estar are two of the most important verbs to learn, but they can be a real challenge as they both mean "to be" in Spanish. 

How to know if to use ser or estar?  

In short, the key difference is that ser is your go-to verb for talking about things that are permanent or defining: who you are, where you're from, and your characteristics. Think of it as the verb for the things not likely to change. Estar, on the other hand, is all about the here and now. Use it for temporary states and conditions: how you're feeling, where you are at the moment, and what's going on right now. 

Getting the hang of when to use ser vs. estar is key to speaking Spanish naturally and accurately. But first things first: let’s start from the fundamentals. 

Ser and Estar: Conjugation Charts 

Before we get into the key differences and uses, keep in mind that ser and estar are both irregular verbs with separate conjugation rules, which are summarised in the charts below: 

Ser Conjugation Chart 

Estar Conjugation Chart 

Uses of Ser: Permanent or Lasting Attributes 

As explained above, ser is used to describe features and attributes that are considered permanent or intrinsic to the subject.  

These include: 

1. Identity 

• Yo soy estudiante. (I am a student.) 

• This sentence identifies the speaker as a student, which is an essential part of their identity. 

2. Characteristics 

• Ella es alta. (She is tall.) 

• Being tall is a characteristic of a person and is considered a permanent attribute. 

3. Time 

• Son las tres de la tarde. (It is three in the afternoon.) 

• This use of ser tells the time, which is a fixed point. 

4. Origin 

• Nosotros somos de España. (We are from Spain.) 

• Origin is an intrinsic part of one's identity, thus a permanent attribute. 

5. Profession 

• Él es médico. (He is a doctor.) 

• Profession, often seen as a long-term or permanent attribute, is expressed using ser. 

6. Relationships 

• Ellos son mis amigos. (They are my friends.) 

• Relationships and connections between people are typically stable and enduring. 

Uses of Estar: Temporary States or Conditions 

Estar is used to describe qualities and states that are temporary or subject to change, and these include: 

1. Location 

• Yo estoy en casa. (I am at home.) 

• This sentence indicates a temporary location. 

2. Emotions 

• Tú estás feliz. (You are happy.) 

• Emotions are considered temporary states that can change. 

3. Health 

• Él está enfermo. (He is sick.) 

• Health conditions are usually temporary. 

4. Temporary Conditions 

• Nosotros estamos cansados. (We are tired.) 

• Being tired is a temporary state. 

5. Weather Conditions 

• Está nublado. (It is cloudy.) 

• Weather conditions are subject to change. 

Ser vs Estar: the Main Differences 

Now that we have a clear picture of the characteristics of both ser and estar, let’s compare them and highlight the main differences: 

Ser is used for permanent or lasting attributes such as identity, characteristics, time, origin, profession, and relationships. It often answers the question "What is it?" and refers to inherent qualities or characteristics that define the essence of a person, place, or thing. 

Estar is used for temporary states or conditions, including location, emotions, health, temporary conditions, and weather. It often answers the question "How is it?" and refers to states or conditions that are subject to change. 

And if you’re a fan of visualisation as I am, here's a quick comparison in a table: 

It’s true that I am a fan of tables and charts for a better visualisation of the rules, but do you know what beats that? Charts and tables of grammar rules in context! 

Ser vs Estar in Context: Save This Chart 

When to Use Ser vs Estar: The “Common” Ground * 

Ser and estar have separate and easily identifiable purposes, such as telling time and countries with ser and discussing progressive acts with estar.  

However, there’s a plot twist! 

In other cases, like those marked with * in the table above, the distinction between these verbs appears to be blurred, causing confusion since some adjectives or conditions may match with both verbs depending on the message you wish to express. 

Ready to break down and clarify these tricky situations? 

Ser or estar for location  

In Spanish, we can only use estar to describe where a person, place, or item is.  

This is because people move around and homes, venues, or businesses might relocate or close, so the location of places —even monuments or historic structures— might change.  

Juan está en la oficina. 

• (Juan is in the office.) 

• Juan's current location is described with estar because he can move to another place or leave the office. 

El Coliseo está en Roma. 

• (The Colosseum  is in Rome.) 

• Even though the Colosseum is a permanent structure, its location is described with estar because, theoretically, its location could change. 

La tienda está en la esquina de la calle. 

• (The shop is on the corner of the street.) 

• The shop's location is described with estar because shops can move to different locations or close down. 

Ser, instead, is used to indicate where an event is happening.  

El concierto es en el estadio. 

• (The concert is at the stadium.) 

La reunión es en la sala de conferencias. 

• (The meeting is in the conference room.) 

La fiesta de cumpleaños es en la casa de María. 

• (The birthday party is at María's house.) 

Estar or ser for a profession 

Typically, the verb ser is used to describe a person's profession or occupation. However, this only applies when the employment is viewed as a professional, long-term one.  

When discussing transitory professions in Spanish, we use the phrase estar de.  

In short, the use of ser or estar is determined by how the person sees their occupation, if as a long-term or transitory one. So you simply need to put yourself in other people’s shoes! 

Ella es doctora. 

• (She is a doctor.) 

• This indicates that being a doctor is her long-term profession. 

Él es ingeniero. 

• (He is an engineer.) 

• This indicates that being an engineer is his long-term profession. 

Ella está de camarera durante el verano. 

• (She is working as a waitress during the summer.) 

• This suggests that being a waitress is a temporary job for her. 

Él está de dependiente en una tienda mientras estudia. 

• (He is working as a shop assistant while he studies.) 

• This suggests that being a shop assistant is a temporary job for him. 

Ser or estar for descriptions 

Talking about qualities and descriptions creates further ambiguity in the setting.  

Ser must be used in Spanish when referring to innate qualities, or those characteristics that define something or someone's identity. This can include things like connections, climate, and even physical and psychological traits.  

Ella es muy inteligente. 

• (She is very intelligent.) 

• Intelligence is considered an innate quality that defines her identity. 

El clima en este país es caluroso. 

• (The climate in this country is hot.) 

• The hot climate is an inherent characteristic of the country. 

Estar is associated with descriptions of transient characteristics, moods, or conditions due to its changing nature. Stated differently, feelings, marital status, conditions related to the body or mind, or indications.  

As a hint, the descriptions written using estar convey situations that are present or subject to change.  

El café está caliente. 

• (The coffee is hot.) 

• The hot temperature of the coffee is a temporary condition. 

The exception to the rule of estar with feelings is “feliz”: 

Ella es feliz. 

• (She is a happy person.) 

• “Feliz” is used to describe a person that is always happy. 

Ella está contenta hoy. 

• (She is happy today.) 

• "Contenta" is used here to convey a transient mood or condition that can change. 

→ Please note that this rule might change in some Latin American countries, where you might hear people saying “Ella está feliz”. 

Adjectives and Different Meaning with Ser and Estar 

In Spanish, certain adjectives can have different meanings depending on whether they are used with ser or estar. This distinction often indicates whether a feature is intrinsic (permanent) or transitory (temporary). Here are some examples of such adjectives, along with explanations and sentences to illustrate their different meanings: 

The examples below show how an adjective can have distinct meanings depending on whether it is used with ser or estar, and they clearly indicate the context of each usage. 

Ser vs Estar vs Haber 

Surprise! There is a third verb that might be interpreted as 'to be' in Spanish: haber in its third singular form "hay".  

I understand this might be mind-blowing, but I assure you that the use of hay is actually simple and quite different from ser and estar. Let's clarify the differences using examples: 

• Hay una fiesta en el parque. (There is a party in the park.) 

• La fiesta es divertida. (The party is fun.) 

• El parque está lleno de gente. (The park is full of people.) 

Hay is used to indicate the existence of something. It translates as “there is/are”. It’s impersonal, so it never changes. 

Ser is used to describe an intrinsic quality or characteristic. It changes in agreement with the subject. 

Estar is used to describe a temporary state or condition. It changes in agreement with the subject. 

Author:

Fabia Parodi  

Fascinated by foreign languages and cultures, Fabia Parodi was determined to be a polyglot since she was a child. Fluent in Italian, English, French and Spanish and competent in Mandarin Chinese, Fabia is an experienced language teacher, translator and multicultural marketing specialist. 

When in class, she always make sure to include graded and authentic materials in her lessons to expose students to foreign cultures and to introduce a more natural use of the language they are learning. The two things she loves more than languages are travelling and exchanging stories with people from all over the world.