Verbs & ConjugationelementaryCEFR A2

Ser vs Estar (Basic Uses)

What You'll Learn

A2 Essential: Learn the fundamental difference between ser (permanent) and estar (temporary)
Apply the DOCTOR memory trick for when to use ser
Apply the PLACE memory trick for when to use estar
Distinguish between permanent characteristics (ser) and temporary states (estar)
Understand location rules: origin vs current position
Recognise how the same adjective can change meaning with ser vs estar
Avoid the most common ser/estar mistakes Spanish learners make
Use ser and estar correctly in everyday conversations

Overview / Usage

Ser and Estar are both Spanish verbs that mean "to be," but they are used in completely different situations. Understanding when to use each one is crucial for speaking Spanish correctly.

Key Differences:

Ser is used for permanent characteristics, identity, and inherent qualities
Estar is used for temporary states, locations, and conditions

When to Use Ser:

Use the DOCTOR memory trick:

Description (what something is)
Occupation (profession, job)
Characteristic (personality, permanent traits)
Time (telling time, dates)
Origin (where someone/something is from)
Relationship (family connections)

When to Use Estar:

Use the PLACE memory trick:

Position (location, where something is)
Location (current place)
Action (ongoing actions with gerund)
Condition (temporary states, emotions, health)
Emotion (feelings, mood)

Structure & Formation

🔄 Understanding the Two Types of "To Be"

🤔 Why Spanish Has Two "To Be" Verbs (And English Has One)

English speakers often struggle with ser vs estar because English only has one "to be" verb. Spanish developed two different verbs to express different types of existence and states.

🇬🇧 English: One Verb for Everything

I am tall (permanent)
I am happy (temporary)
I am a teacher (identity)
I am in London (location)

Same verb "am" for all situations!

🇪🇸 Spanish: Two Specialized Verbs

Soy alto (permanent)
Estoy feliz (temporary)
Soy profesor (identity)
Estoy en Londres (location)

Different verbs for different types of "being"!

📊 Complete Conjugation Tables

Want to see complete conjugations for all tenses? Visit our dedicated verb pages:

📖 Complete SER conjugations 📖 Complete ESTAR conjugations

SER (permanent) - Irregular

Singular	Plural
yo soy I am	nosotros somos we are
tú eres you are	vosotros sois you all are
él/ella es he/she is	ellos/ellas son they are

ESTAR (temporary) - Irregular

Singular	Plural
yo estoy I am	nosotros estamos we are
tú estás you are	vosotros estáis you all are
él/ella está he/she is	ellos/ellas están they are

📋 Formation Rules

SER + adjective

= permanent characteristic
Soy alto (I am tall)

ESTAR + adjective

= temporary state
Estoy feliz (I am happy)

SER + location

= origin/event location
Soy de Madrid (I'm from Madrid)

ESTAR + location

= current location
Estoy en Madrid (I'm in Madrid)

Examples

💬 Real-Life Examples

SER Examples (Permanent)

Soy español

I am Spanish (nationality)

Soy profesor

I am a teacher (profession)

Soy alto

I am tall (permanent characteristic)

Soy de Madrid

I am from Madrid (origin)

La mesa es de madera

The table is made of wood (material)

Son las tres

It is three o'clock (time)

ESTAR Examples (Temporary)

Estoy en Madrid

I am in Madrid (current location)

Estoy feliz

I am happy (temporary emotion)

Estoy cansado

I am tired (temporary condition)

Estoy estudiando

I am studying (ongoing action)

La sopa está caliente

The soup is hot (temporary state)

Estoy enfermo

I am sick (temporary health condition)

📗 A2+ Content: This section covers adjectives that change meaning with ser/estar. A1 learners can skip this for now.

Same Adjective, Different Meanings

Soy aburrido

I am boring (personality trait)

Estoy aburrido

I am bored (current feeling)

Soy listo

I am smart (intelligence)

Estoy listo

I am ready (prepared)

Soy rico

I am rich (wealth)

Estoy rico

I am delicious (taste opinion)

📚 Master All 6 Key Adjectives

Learn the complete list of adjectives that change meaning with ser vs estar - including detailed explanations and practice examples for listo, rico, aburrido, bueno, malo, and vivo.

Read the full article →

🎯 Essential Ser vs Estar Concepts to Master

DOCTOR

When to use SER

Memory Aid

High Priority

PLACE

When to use ESTAR

Memory Aid

High Priority

Adjective meanings

Change with verb choice

Context

High Priority

Location rules

Origin vs current position

Usage

Medium Priority

Time expressions

Always use SER

Rule

Medium Priority

Progressive actions

Always use ESTAR

Rule

Medium Priority

Gotchas / Common Mistakes

⚠️ Common Mistakes & Tricky Cases

❌ Most Common Ser vs Estar Mistakes

Wrong:Soy en Madrid

Correct:Estoy en Madrid

Location (where you are right now) always uses ESTAR

Wrong:Estoy profesor

Correct:Soy profesor

Profession/occupation is permanent identity - use SER

Wrong:Soy feliz (when feeling happy right now)

Correct:Estoy feliz

Current emotions are temporary states - use ESTAR

Wrong:Estoy español

Correct:Soy español

Nationality is permanent identity - use SER

🚨 The Dangerous "Soy caliente" Mistake!

NEVER say:Soy caliente

This means "I am sexy/horny" - not what you want to say when feeling hot!

Say instead:Tengo calor

"I have heat" = I feel hot (temperature)

🤔 Tricky Exceptions & Special Cases

Death & Marriage

Está muerto (he is dead)

Está casado (he is married)

Uses ESTAR because these are states, not inherent characteristics

Event Locations

La fiesta es en mi casa

"The party is at my house" - uses SER for event locations (where something takes place)

🧠 Memory Tricks That Actually Work

DOCTOR for SER

Description - what something is
Occupation - profession, job
Characteristic - permanent traits
Time - telling time, dates
Origin - where someone is from
Relationship - family connections

PLACE for ESTAR

Position - location, where something is
Location - current place
Action - ongoing actions (with gerund)
Condition - temporary states, health
Emotion - feelings, mood