Ser and estar both mean “to be,” but there are lots of tricks to learning when to use each!

Here’s what you need to know about how to conjugate ser and estar, the most common uses of each, and two easy tricks for you to remember the difference. You’ll never have to struggle with these two again!

DOWNLOAD DUOLINGO FOR FREE
Graphic of two side-by-side mnemonics titled “When to use ‘ser’” and “When to use ‘estar’.” In the “ser” box, the words “Date,” “Occupation,” “Characteristics,” “Time,” “Origin,” and “Relationships” are listed, forming the acronym “DOCTOR.” In the “estar” box, the words “Position,” “Location,” “Action,” “Condition,” and “Emotions” are listed, forming the acronym “PLACE.” An illustration of Duo is in the bottom right corner of the graphic, facing the viewer with his wings crossed.

How to conjugate ser and when to use it

Ser is an irregular verb, which means that it doesn’t follow the regular pattern for verb endings. But you’ll see the forms of ser so often that you’ll get lots of practice with them! Like all Spanish verbs, ser will change depending on who the subject is—we do this for some verbs in English, too, by saying I am but she is. Here’s how you conjugate ser:

SER (to be)

Subject Form of ser Example
yo soy Yo soy talentosa.
I am talented.
tú eres Tú eres inteligente.
You are intelligent.
él
ella
usted		 es Él es de Chicago.
He is from Chicago.

Ella es una estudiante.
She is a student.

Usted es un doctor.
You are a doctor.
nosotros
nosotras		 somos Nosotros somos buenos amigos.
We are good friends.
vosotros
vosotras
(used in Spain)		 sois Vosotras sois fotógrafas.
Y’all are photographers.
ellos
ellas
ustedes		 son Ellos son de Francia.
They are from France.

Ellas son mis primas.
They are my cousins.

Ustedes son dentistas.
You all are dentists.

There’s an easy way to remember some of the most common uses of ser, and that’s by remembering the acronym DOCTOR: Each letter in DOCTOR stands for one of the situations in which you’ll use ser!

💡
In general, ser is used to describe things that are fixed or permanent.
Situation Example
D Date
Use ser to tell someone the date.		 Hoy es el veintitrés de septiembre.
Today is September twenty-third.
O Occupation
Use ser to talk about your occupation.		 Yo soy una doctora.
I am a doctor.

Nosotras somos abogadas.
We are lawyers.
C Characteristics
Use ser when describing physical characteristics, qualities, or personality traits.		 LeBron James es famoso.
LeBron is famous.

Ustedes son introvertidos.
You all are introverted.
T Time
Use ser to talk about the time.
Note: Remember to use es for 1:00 because it is one hour (singular) and son for all the other times because they’re more than one hour (plural)!		 Es la una de la tarde.
It is 1:00pm.

Son las seis y media de la mañana.
It is 6:30am.
O Origin
Use ser to talk about where someone or something is from.		 Ustedes son chilenos.
You all are Chilean.

El auto es alemán.
The car is German.
R Relationships
Use ser when talking about your relationship to someone.		 Olga es mi abuela.
Olga is my grandmother.

Ellos son mis tíos.
They are my uncles.

How to conjugate estar and when to use it

Just like ser, estar is also an irregular verb that you’ll get lots of practice with! Here’s how you conjugate it:

ESTAR (to be)

Subject Form of estar Example
yo estoy Yo estoy bien.
I am well.
tú estás Tú estás en la biblioteca.
You are at the library.
él
ella
usted		 está Él está enfermo.
He is sick.

Ella está bailando.
She is dancing.

Usted está estudiando español.
You are studying Spanish.
nosotros
nosotras		 estamos Nosotros estamos contentos.
We are happy.
vosotros
vosotras
(used in Spain)		 estáis Vosotros estáis tristes.
Y’all are sad.
ellos
ellas
ustedes		 están Ellos están en Londres.
They are in London.

Ellas están comiendo tacos.
They are eating tacos.

Ustedes están en la fiesta.
You all are at the party.

There is also an easy way to remember some of the most common uses of estar, and that’s by remembering the acronym PLACE: Each letter stands for one of the situations in which you’ll use estar!

💡
Estar is generally used for temporary conditions and locations.
Situation Example
P Position
Use estar to talk about where something is placed.		 ¿Dónde están mis lentes?
Where are my glasses?

Tus lentes están en la mesa.
Your glasses are on the table.
L Location
Use estar to talk about where something or someone is.		 Yo estoy en el restaurante.
I am in the restaurant.

Mis amigos están en la fiesta.
My friends are at the party.
A Action (what is happening)
Use estar to describe what someone is doing.
Note: For Action, you’ll also need the ‑ing form of the second verb!		 Usted está estudiando.
You are studying.

Nosotros estamos comiendo pizza.
We are eating pizza.
C Condition
Use estar to talk about the state of something or someone.		 ¿Están enfermas?
Are you all sick?

Yo estoy cansado.
I am tired.
E Emotions
Use estar to talk about your feelings.		 Tú estás contenta.
You are happy.

Ella está triste hoy.
She is sad today.

Ser or estar? Let’s try a few examples!

Ready to put these tips to the test? Try these two challenges!

Keep in mind the DOCTOR uses for ser and the PLACE uses for estar. You’ll find the answer key at the end of the post.

Challenge 1: Choose the correct verb
Let’s do one together:

Choose between ser and estar
Ella ___ mi mamá. es or está

💡 Answer: es (a form of ser) because the sentence is describing a relationship.

Now it’s your turn!

Choose between ser and estar
1. ¿Qué hora ___ ? es or está
2. Ustedes ___ de Mallorca. son or están
3. ¿Cómo ___ tú hoy? ¿Bien, mal, más o menos? eres or estás
4. Nosotros ___ hermanos. somos or estamos
5. Ellas ___ en el parque. son or están

Check your answers below, then try Challenge 2!

Challenge 2: Choose the correct verb and verb form
Let’s do one together:

Choose the correct form of ser or estar
Ella ___ enojada.

💡 Answer: está (a form of estar) because the sentence is describing an emotion.

Now try these!

Choose the correct form of ser or estar
1. ___ la una y media de la tarde.
2. Las profesoras ___ altas.
3. El libro ___ en la oficina.
4. El Señor Gómez ___ de Bolivia.
5. Mis padres ___ estudiando español también.

When you’re finished, check your answers below.

To be or… to be? That is the question!

Now you have a great way to remember whether you need to use ser or estar. Look out for the different forms of these verbs in your next Duolingo lessons, and see which DOCTOR or PLACE situation each sentence fits with!

Challenge answer key

Challenge 1: Choose the correct verb

Sentence Explanation
1. ¿Qué hora es?
What time is it?		 Es (a form of ser) because we are talking about the Time.
2. Ustedes son de Mallorca.
You all are from Mallorca.		 Son (a form of ser) because we are talking about Origin.
3. ¿Cómo estás tú hoy? ¿Bien, mal, más o menos?
How are you doing today? Good, bad, so-so?		 Estás (a form of estar) because we are talking about someone’s Condition.
4. Nosotros somos hermanos.
We are brothers.		 Somos (a form of ser) because we are talking about a Relationship.
5. Ellas están en el parque.
They are at the park.		 Están (a form of estar) because we are talking about someone’s Location.

Challenge 2: Choose the correct verb and verb form

Sentence Explanation
1. Es la una y media de la tarde.
It’s one thirty in the afternoon.		 Ser because we are talking about the Time.

Es because the subject is it.
2. Las profesoras son altas.
The teachers are tall.		 Ser because we are talking about someone’s Characteristics.

Son because the subject is they (las profesoras).
3. El libro está en la oficina.
The book is in the office.		 Estar because we are talking about a Location.

Está because the subject is it (el libro).
4. El Señor Gómez es de Bolivia.
Mr. Gomez is from Bolivia.		 Ser because we are talking about Origin.

Es because the subject is he (Señor Gómez).
5. Mis padres están estudiando español también.
My parents are studying Spanish, too.		 Estar because we are talking about an Action (what is happening).

Están because the subject is they (mis padres).