"Soy aburrido" and "estoy aburrido" look almost the same. One means "I'm boring"; the other means "I'm bored". Choosing between ser and estar is one of the first things that makes Spanish feel different from English, and the good news is that one simple question gets you most of the way.
The present tense
| ser | estar | |
|---|---|---|
| yo | soy | estoy |
| tú | eres | estás |
| él / ella / usted | es | está |
| nosotros | somos | estamos |
| vosotros (Spain) | sois | estáis |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | son | están |
The question to ask
Is it about what something is, or how or where it is?
- Ser for what something is: identity, where you're from, your job, lasting traits, the time and the date.
- Soy estudiante. Es de Perú. Es alta. Son las dos.
- Estar for how and where: feelings, temporary states, location, and actions happening now.
- Estoy cansado. La sopa está fría. El baño está allí. Estoy estudiando.
A memory rule: "How you feel and where you are, that is when you use estar."
Two traps
- Location always uses estar, even for things that never move: Madrid está en España.
- Except events. Where a party, concert or meeting takes place uses ser: La fiesta es en mi casa.
Same adjective, different meaning
- ser listo (clever) / estar listo (ready)
- ser aburrido (boring) / estar aburrido (bored)
Mistakes learners make
- "Madrid es en España." Location: está.
- "Estoy estudiante." Jobs and roles: soy, and no "un" or "una".
- "Soy cansado." Tired is a state: estoy.
- Thinking ser means permanent. It's mostly true, but location is permanent and still uses estar.
Try it
Say three sentences about yourself out loud: where you're from (ser), how you feel right now (estar), and where you are (estar). ¿Cómo se dice "The coffee is hot"?