The differences between Ser and Estar.

Ser  for innate characteristics

This covers a very wide range of situations:

General physical appearance:

• Es una chica rubia.*
  She’s a blonde girl.
• Eres muy alto.
  You are very tall.

*Remember, in Spanish you don’t need to use the subject pronouns (Ella, él…)

We’re currently working on a new class about describing people in Spanish.  Sign up to our Newsletter to be notified whenever we publish new materials.

Permanent characteristics

For example the relationship between two people:

• Ella es mi hermana.
  She is my sister
• Son gemelos.
  They are twins.

Or facts about a person or thing:

• Es el edificio más alto del mundo.
  It’s the tallest building in the world.
• Es el pueblo más bonito de España.
  It’s the prettiest town in Spain.

Profession and nationality

If we say where we are from, or what we do for a living, we’ll also use ser:

• Soy inglés.
  I’m English.

• Son argentinos.
  They are Argentinians.

• Somos estudiantes.
  We are students.
• Soy profesor.*
  I’m a teacher.

In Hablarama’s Basic Spanish course we dedicate an entire class to giving personal information.
*Notice that in Spanish we do not usually add an article (un, una) when giving our profession;

Incorrecto: Soy un arquitecto
Correcto: Soy arquitecto

General identity

To identify an object, animal or person. To say what it is:

• Es una escultura.
  It’s a sculpture.
• Es un ladrillo.
  It’s a brick.

Estar  for current actions

The verb estar is used in the present tense with a gerund to say what we are doing at the moment. This is the equivalent of the English present continuous tense.

• ¡Estoy hablando!
  I’m talking!
• Estamos comiendo.
  We’re eating.

Estar  for emotions or temporary states

• Están enfadados contigo.
  They’re annoyed with you.
• Estoy muy triste.
  I’m very sad. 
• ¿Estás cansado?
  Are you tired?
• ¿Estás de broma?
  Are you kidding me?