October 31, 2022
[Valeria Carrillo, Ed.D.](https://blog.duolingo.com/author/valeria/)
# Ser vs. estar: What’s the difference?
In Spanish, both verbs mean “to be.” Here are 2 tricks for knowing when to use them!
If you are a new Spanish learner, you’ve probably wondered about the difference between ser and estar, two verbs that can mean “to be.” Not to worry! There are lots of tricks to learning _ser_ and _estar_ and when to use each.
Here’s what you need to know about how to conjugate _ser_ and _estar_, the most common uses of each, and some easy ways for you to remember the difference. You’ll never have to struggle with these two again!
## How to conjugate _ser_ and when to use it
_Ser_ is an irregular verb, which means that it doesn’t follow the regular pattern for verb endings. But you’ll see the forms of _ser_ so often that you’ll get lots of practice with them! Like all Spanish verbs, _ser_ will change depending on who the subject is—we do this in English, too, by saying _I **am**_ but _she **is**_. Here’s how you conjugate _ser_:
### SER (to be)
| Subject | Form of _ser_ | Example |
| --- | --- | --- |
| yo | soy | Yo soy talentosa.
I am talented. |
| tú | eres | Tú eres inteligente.
You are intelligent. |
| él
ella
usted | es | Él es de Chicago.
He is from Chicago.
Ella es una estudiante.
She is a student.
Usted es un doctor.
You are a doctor. |
| nosotros
nosotras | somos | Nosotros somos buenos amigos.
We are good friends. |
| ellos
ellas
ustedes | son | Ellos son de Francia.
They are from France.
Ellas son mis primas.
They are my cousins.
Ustedes son dentistas.
You all are dentists. |
There’s an easy way to remember some of the most common uses of _ser_, and that’s by remembering the acronym **DOCTOR**: Each letter in **DOCTOR** stands for one of the situations in which you’ll use _ser_!
| | Situation | Example |
| --- | --- | --- |
| D | **Date**
Use _ser_ to tell someone the date. | Hoy es el veintitrés de septiembre.
Today is September twenty-third. |
| O | **Occupation**
Use _ser_ to talk about your occupation. | Yo soy una doctora.
I am a doctor.
Nosotras somos abogadas.
We are lawyers. |
| C | **Characteristics**
Use _ser_ when describing physical characteristics, qualities, or personality traits. | LeBron James es famoso.
LeBron is famous.
Ustedes son introvertidos.
You all are introverted. |
| T | **Time**
Use _ser_ to talk about the time.
**Note:** Remember to use _es_ for 1:00 because it is one hour (singular) and _son_ for all the other times because they’re more than one hour (plural)! | Es la una de la tarde.
It is 1:00pm.
Son las seis y media de la mañana.
It is 6:30am. |
| O | **Origin**
Use _ser_ to talk about where someone or something is from. | Ustedes son chilenos.
You all are Chilean.
El auto es alemán.
The car is German. |
| R | **Relationships**
Use _ser_ when talking about your relationship to someone. | Olga es mi abuela.
Olga is my grandmother.
Ellos son mis tíos.
They are my uncles. |
## How to conjugate _estar_ and when to use it
Just like _ser_, _estar_ is also an irregular verb that you’ll get lots of practice with! Here’s how you conjugate it:
### ESTAR (to be)
| Subject | Form of _estar_ | Example |
| --- | --- | --- |
| yo | estoy | Yo estoy bien.
I am well. |
| tú | estás | Tú estás en la biblioteca.
You are at the library. |
| él
ella
usted | está | Él está enfermo.
He is sick.
Ella está bailando.
She is dancing.
Usted está estudiando español.
You are studying Spanish. |
| nosotros
nosotras | estamos | Nosotros estamos contentos.
We are happy. |
| ellos
ellas
ustedes | están | Ellos están en Londres.
They are in London.
Ellas están comiendo tacos.
They are eating tacos.
Ustedes están en la fiesta.
You all are at the party. |
There is also an easy way to remember some of the most common uses of _estar_, and that’s by remembering the acronym **PLACE:** Each letter stands for one of the situations in which you’ll use _estar_!
| | Situation | Example |
| --- | --- | --- |
| P | **Position**
Use _estar_ to talk about where something is placed. | ¿Dónde están mis lentes?
Where are my glasses?
Tus lentes están en la mesa.
Your glasses are on the table. |
| L | **Location**
Use _estar_ to talk about where something or someone is. | Yo estoy en el restaurante.
I am in the restaurant.
Mis amigos están en la fiesta.
My friends are at the party. |
| A | **Action** (what is happen **ing**)
Use _estar_ to describe what someone is do **ing**.
**Note:** For Action, you’ll also need the **_‑ing_** form of the second verb! | Usted está estudiando.
You are studying.
Nosotros estamos comiendo pizza.
We are eating pizza. |
| C | **Condition**
Use _estar_ to talk about the state of something or someone. | ¿Están enfermas?
Are you all sick?
Yo estoy cansado.
I am tired. |
| E | **Emotions**
Use _estar_ to talk about your feelings. | Tú estás contenta.
You are happy.
Ella está triste hoy.
She is sad today. |
## _Ser_ or _estar_? Let’s try a few examples!
Ready to put these tips to the test? Try these two challenges!
Keep in mind the DOCTOR uses for _ser_ and the PLACE uses for _estar_. You’ll find the answer key [at the end of the post](https://blog.duolingo.com/ser-vs-estar/#challenge-answer-key).
**Challenge 1**
Let’s do one together:
| | Choose between _ser_ and _estar_ |
| --- | --- |
| Ella \_\_\_ mi mamá. | **es** or **está** |
💡 This one has to be _**es**_ (a form of _ser_) because the sentence is describing a relationship.
Now it’s your turn!
| | Choose between _ser_ and _estar_ |
| --- | --- |
| 1\. ¿Qué hora \_\_\_ ? | **es** or **está** |
| 2\. Ustedes \_\_\_ de Mallorca. | **son** or **están** |
| 3\. ¿Cómo \_\_\_ tú hoy? ¿Bien, mal, más o menos? | **eres** or **estás** |
| 4\. Nosotros \_\_\_ hermanos. | **somos** or **estamos** |
| 5\. Ellas \_\_\_ en el parque. | **son** or **están** |
How did you do? Too easy? Try Challenge 2 when you are ready!
**Challenge 2**
Let’s do one together:
| | Write the form of _ser_ or _estar_ |
| --- | --- |
| Ella \_\_\_ enojada. | |
💡 This one has to be _**está**_ (a form of _estar_) because the sentence is describing an emotion.
Now it’s your turn!
| | Write the form of _ser_ or _estar_ |
| --- | --- |
| 1\. \_\_\_ la una y media de la tarde. | |
| 2\. Las profesoras \_\_\_ altas. | |
| 3\. El libro \_\_\_ en la oficina. | |
| 4\. El Señor Gómez \_\_\_ de Bolivia. | |
| 5\. Mis padres \_\_\_ estudiando español también. | |
## To be or… to be? That _is_ the question!
Now you have a great way to remember whether you need to use _ser_ or _estar_. Look out for the different forms of these verbs in your next Duolingo lessons, and see which DOCTOR or PLACE situation each sentence fits with!
* * *
### Challenge answer key
**Challenge 1**
| Sentence | Translation | Explanation |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1\. ¿Qué hora es? | What time is it? | _Ser_ because we are talking about the **T** ime. |
| 2\. Ustedes son de Mallorca. | You all are from Mallorca. | _Ser_ because we are talking about **O** rigin. |
| 3\. ¿Cómo estás tú hoy? ¿Bien, mal, más o menos? | How are you doing today? Good, bad, so-so? | _Estar_ because we are talking about someone’s **C** ondition. |
| 4\. Nosotros somos hermanos. | We are brothers. | _Ser_ because we are talking about a **R** elationship. |
| 5\. Ellas están en el parque. | They are at the park. | _Estar_ because we are talking about someone’s **L** ocation. |
**Challenge 2**
| Sentence | Translation | Explanation |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1\. Es la una y media de la tarde. | It’s one thirty in the afternoon. | _Ser_ because we are talking about the **T** ime.
_Es_ because the subject is _it_. |
| 2\. Las profesoras son altas. | The teachers are tall. | _Ser_ because we are talking about someone’s **C** haracteristics.
_Son_ because the subject is _they_ ( _las profesoras_). |
| 3\. El libro está en la oficina. | The book is in the office. | _Estar_ because we are talking about a **L** ocation.
_Está_ because the subject is _it_ ( _el libro_). |
| 4\. El Señor Gómez es de Bolivia. | Mr. Gomez is from Bolivia. | _Ser_ because we are talking about **O** rigin.
_Es_ because the subject is _he_ ( _Señor Gómez_). |
| 5\. Mis padres están estudiando español también. | My parents are studying Spanish, too. | _Estar_ because we are talking about an **A** ction (what is happen **ing**).
_Están_ because the subject is _they_ ( _mis padres_). |