Ser e estar

Ser e estar means “ser for what something IS, estar for how it IS RIGHT NOW”. The split is essentially the same as in Spanish, so Spanish speakers can transfer it almost wholesale. Formation: ser = identidade, característica permanente · estar = estado, situação passageira

ser for what something IS, estar for how it IS RIGHT NOW

A1

Formation

ser = identidade, característica permanente · estar = estado, situação passageira

Explanation

The split is essentially the same as in Spanish, so Spanish speakers can transfer it almost wholesale. ser covers identity, origin, profession, material and lasting qualities: Eu sou brasileiro, Ela é médica, A mesa é de madeira. estar covers temporary states, moods and current conditions: Estou cansado, A comida está fria, Ele está em casa. The classic minimal pair shows the difference in one line: Ela é bonita (she is a beautiful person) versus Ela está bonita (she looks lovely today). One genuine difference from Spanish is worth flagging: for the location of buildings and places Portuguese prefers a third verb, ficar — O Brasil fica na América do Sul, where Spanish says Madrid está en España.

Examples

Minha irmã é professora.
My sister is a teacher.
A sopa está muito quente.
The soup is very hot.

Note

For where things are located, see ficar — it is the usual choice for buildings, cities and countries.

FAQ

Ser e estar — what does it mean and how is it used?

ser for what something IS, estar for how it IS RIGHT NOW. The split is essentially the same as in Spanish, so Spanish speakers can transfer it almost wholesale. ser covers identity, origin, profession, material and lasting qualities: Eu sou brasileiro, Ela é médica, A mesa é de madeira. estar covers temporary states, moods and current conditions: Estou cansado, A comida está fria, Ele está em casa. The classic minimal pair shows the difference in one line: Ela é bonita (she is a beautiful person) versus Ela está bonita (she looks lovely today). One genuine difference from Spanish is worth flagging: for the location of buildings and places Portuguese prefers a third verb, ficar — O Brasil fica na América do Sul, where Spanish says Madrid está en España.

Ser e estar — how do you form it?

ser = identidade, característica permanente · estar = estado, situação passageira

Ser e estar — any usage notes?

For where things are located, see ficar — it is the usual choice for buildings, cities and countries.

Related grammar

Learn in the app →