Distinguishing Between Estar & Ser

Estar vs Ser

Although both verbs, Estar and Ser, can be translated as ‘to be,’ they show some difference in usage. Estar and Ser are two significant Spanish verbs. If the speaker intends to convey a condition or a quality, they use the two verbs differently. Understanding the difference between a quality and a condition will help you know when to use estar and when to use ser. Merely knowing the difference between the two verbs will not help you, as both mean ‘to be.’ This article will explain when to use which of the two.

In English, the verb ‘to be’ can give the sense of condition and quality as well. However, in English, the same verb is used, and we have to understand whether it is a quality or a condition the verb refers to. In Spanish, the two verbs estar and ser are used differently to convey the sense of condition and quality.

What does Estar mean?

Estar means ‘to be,’ and it is used when we want to express a condition. For example:

The apple is green. (The apple is not ripe.)

La manzana esta verde. (The apple is green.)

In this context, estar is the equivalent for the English ‘to be’ when speaking about a condition.

What does Ser mean?

Ser also means ‘to be,’ and it is used when we want to express a quality. For example:

The apple is green. (The apple is green in color.)

La manzana es verde. (The apple is green.)

In this context, ser is the equivalent for the English ‘to be’ when speaking about a quality.

Estar and Ser are both irregular verbs in the Spanish language, so they do not follow rules that pertain to regular verbs. Therefore, it is essential to memorize their usage.

Variations of “Estar” include Estoy, Estas, Esta, Estamos, Estais, and Estan. Variations of “Ser” include Soy, Eres, Es, Somos, Sois, and Son.

If you want to explain what something is, use ‘ser’. If you want to explain how something is, use ‘estar.’

Key Takeaways

• To convey a sense of condition, you should use the verb ‘estar.’
• To convey a sense of quality, you should use ‘ser.’
• Both ser and estar are irregular verbs, meaning you have to memorize their usage.