By Lingobi, Published on 03/15/2025
Struggling with "ser" and "estar"? These two Spanish verbs both mean "to be," but they have different uses.
Key Uses of "Ser"
Ser is for permanent traits: descriptions, jobs, time, and origins.
Example: Soy ingeniero. (I am an engineer.)
Key Uses of "Estar"
Estar is for temporary states: emotions, locations, and ongoing actions.
Example: Estoy cansado. (I am tired.)
A quick trick: DOCTOR for "ser" (Description, Occupation, Characteristic, Time, Origin, Relationship) and PLACE for "estar" (Position, Location, Action, Condition, Emotion).