What is the difference between SER & ESTAR in Spanish?

Question

The difference between SER & ESTAR in Spanish.

Answer 1

SER&ESTAR are the equivalent for TO BE in English. It can be complicated to know when to use one or the other, but it helps when you learn this rule: SER is mostly used for describing permanent, inherent, general or long term characteristics of a person or object; while ESTAR is used when TO BE expresses temporariness, particularity or a status change due to some action.

For instance, we use SER for origins, because you'll always be an Mexican or a Japanese (Yo SOY mejicano/ Yo SOY japonés); for personal characteristics that describe people and won't change or at least won't do it from one day to another (Él ES alto o Ella ES delgada/ SOY conversador o SOY tímido); for characteristics of objects or things that will remain in time (El vestido ES azul / La mesa ES de madera / La vida ES Bella / Este idioma ES difícil); for occupations or jobs (SOY médico o SOY mecánico automotriz); for belongings or relations (El lápiz ES mío/ Yo SOY su madre).

On the other hand, we use ESTAR for mood, which variates (Hoy ESTOY triste o El fin de semana ESTUVE muy estresado); to qualify something or someone in a particular moment (La comida ESTÁ muy rica / El día ESTÁ soleado / Hoy ESTÁS radiante); to declare position/location (El libro ESTÁ sobre la mesa / La pelota ESTÁ en el centro del campo); and always when it comes to actions (La muchacha ESTÁ bailando / ESTOY ejercitando en el gimnasio) or even when a characteristic has change or just emerged because of some action ( El reloj ESTÁ roto / Su cara ESTÁ roja / ESTAMOS horrorizados con la situación).

I would say the main exceptions to this rule are time and location. For telling the time we always use SER, and of course, clock time is constantly changing... but we always use SER for time (SON las tres de la tarde). And when it comes to locations or positions, we always use ESTAR, even if the location is, let's say, a house or building that's being there and will be there for years, yet we use ESTAR. (La casa ESTÁ en la colina / Las estrellas ESTÁN en el firmamento).

Answer 2

The difference between SER & ESTAR are two things. If you are new to learning Spanish I first start by teaching my students that SER is used for description. ESTAR is used for location. To expand more here is the breakdown. Both of these verbs mean TO BE.

SER

Descriptions, Occupations, Characteristics, Times, Origins & Relations

ESTAR

Positions, Locations, Actions, Conditions, & Emotions