Ser vs Estar: What Are Their Differences And How To Use Them

Oh the sweet, sweet question of “To be or not to be.” However, in this case, the question is more of a “to be or to be.”

In Spanish, there are two versions of “to be” – ser and estar. So as you can tell, because of this, things can get a little confusing. When do you use ser? How do you use estar? Are these verbs actually different?

To be fair, ser and estar are actually different. They serve different purposes. Ser is more of a passive verb. While, estar is more of an active verb. They mean the same thing in English, but they are very different from one another.

So when studying Spanish, make sure to master ser and estar. Because these verbs are essential when speaking and writing something in Spanish. And if you want to make learning Spanish your new habit, get Beelinguapp now. Immerse yourself in our library of Spanish content that will keep you busy no matter the season.

What is Ser?

Ser is used to describe and express the permanent state of something. A simple way to remember what ser is used for is to think about what something is. You can use ser when discussing a person's nature, identity, or characteristics that make them who they are.

Origin and Nationality

• Ellas son alemanas. (They are German.)
• Esos azulejos azules son de Italia. (Those blue tiles are from Italy.)
• Su mamá es de Marruecos y su papá es de Grecia. (His mom is from Morocco and his dad is from Greece.)

Professions

• Ted es cirujano. (Ted is a surgeon.)
• Laura es arquitecta. (Laura is an architect.)
• Los tres hermanos son ingenieros. (The three brothers are engineers.)

What is Estar?

Estar refers to what something does. It is used to discuss temporary things and to explain one's current status, mood, surroundings, physical condition, and preferences.

Locations

• Lina y Addie están en Irlanda durante el verano. (Lina and Addie are in Ireland for the summer.)
• Los zapatos están en el museo. (The shoes are in the museum.)

Takeaway:

• Ser is used for permanent conditions (what something is).
• Estar is used for temporary things (how something is).