If you are a new Spanish learner, you’ve probably wondered about the difference between ser and estar, two verbs that can mean “to be.” Not to worry! There are lots of tricks to learning ser and estar and 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 some easy ways for you to remember the difference. You’ll never have to struggle with these two again!

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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 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.
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!

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.
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!

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
Let’s do one together:

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

💡 This one has to be 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

How did you do? Too easy? Try Challenge 2 when you are ready!

Challenge 2
Let’s do one together:

Write the form of ser or estar
Ella ___ enojada.

💡 This one has to be está (a form of estar) because the sentence is describing an emotion.

Now it’s your turn!

Write the 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.

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

Sentence Translation Explanation
1. ¿Qué hora es? What time is it? Ser because we are talking about the Time.
2. Ustedes son de Mallorca. You all are from Mallorca. 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? Estar because we are talking about someone’s Condition.
4. Nosotros somos hermanos. We are brothers. Ser because we are talking about a Relationship.
5. Ellas están en el parque. They are at the park. Estar because we are talking about someone’s Location.

Challenge 2

Sentence Translation 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).