To be or not to be, that’s NOT the question…
Ser o estar, it’s the real question.

In the 3 minutes it takes you to read this email, you’ll understand the difference.

​Ser is used for characteristics.

  • El gato es marrón.
    The cat is brown.
  • El gato es pequeño.
    The cat is small.

​Estar is used for states or conditions.

  • El gato está cansado.
    The cat is tired.
  • El gato está sentado.
    The cat is sitting.

Estar is also used for location (to be located).

  • Buenos Aires está en Argentina.
    Buenos Aires is in Argentina.

✨
✨ So:

  • Ser → características.
    Ser → characteristics.
  • Estar → estados, condiciones, ubicación.
    Estar → states, conditions, location.

Do you have any questions? Write to me and I’ll be happy to answer.

Do you want to discover how “bueno” changes its meaning with ser and estar? Watch my video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2odz3GQ6IA

Ser and estar confuse almost everyone at first — but once they click, they become one of the most natural parts of speaking Spanish.
Whether you’re in Buenos Aires or learning from home, we’ll help you make that click happen.