ser and estar
Two verbs for 'to be'.
15 minutes · A free lesson from A1: Primeros pasos (first steps) · Roman and Urdu pronunciation guides and English meanings are shown under each phrase
- ser: who or what something is — identity, origin, profession, character, time. Soy Omar. Soy de Pakistán. Es médica. Son las tres.
ser Say sehrr سےرّ Means: to be (identity, origin, job) Soy Omar. Soy de Pakistán. Es médica. Son las tres. Say soy ohmar. soy deh pakeestan. ehs mehdeeka. sohn las trehs. سوئی اومار. سوئی دے پاکیستان. اےس مےدیکا. سون لاس ترےس. Means: I am Omar. I am from Pakistan. She is a doctor. It is three o'clock. - estar: where something is, and how it is now. Madrid está en España. Estoy cansado. La sopa está fría.
estar Say ehstar اےستار Means: to be (states, location) Madrid está en España. Estoy cansado. La sopa está fría. Say madreed ehsta ehn ehspanya. ehstoy kansadoh. la sohpa ehsta freea. مادرید اےستا اےن اےسپانیا. اےستوئی کانسادو. لا سوپا اےستا فریا. Means: Madrid is in Spain. I am tired. The soup is cold.
Juan es aburrido — Juan is a boring person. Juan está aburrido — Juan is bored (now).
| Juan es aburrido | Say khwan ehs aboorreedoh | خوان اےس ابُورّیدو | Means: Juan is boring |
| Juan está aburrido | Say khwan ehsta aboorreedoh | خوان اےستا ابُورّیدو | Means: Juan is bored |
Quick check: La farmacia ___ al lado del banco.Say: la farmathya, al ladoh dehl bankoh.لا فارماثیا, ال لادو دےل بانکو.Means: The pharmacy [is] next to the bank.
- es
- está
Show the answer
B: está
Lesson quiz
Check what you have learned. Choose an answer to see whether it is right, and why.
Quick check: Choose the right verb: “Mi padre ___ médico.”
- es
- está
Show the answer
A: es — A profession takes ser: es médico.
Quick check: Choose the right verb: “La sopa ___ fría.”
- está
- es
Show the answer
A: está — How something is now takes estar: la sopa está fría.
Quick check: What does “Juan está aburrido” mean?
- Juan is a boring person.
- Juan is bored right now.
- Juan was bored yesterday.
Show the answer
B: Juan is bored right now. — está describes how he is now. Juan es aburrido means he is a boring person.