SER vs ESTAR

Profa. Ana
Nov 13, 2025
2 min read

When to use the verb SER?
When to use the verb ESTAR
Quick summary
⁉️ QUIZ Test

📚 Hello, everyone! In our last post, you learned about the most important verbs in Portuguese. Now, let’s finally clear up the biggest confusion between them: the difference between ser and estar.

In English, both are translated as “to be”, but in Portuguese they have very different meanings. Remember the golden rule:

👉 SER is used for permanent things, which define someone’s or something’s essence.

👉 ESTAR is used for temporary things, which can change.

1️⃣ When to Use SER?

Use ser to describe what you are!

Identity and origin:

Talking about who you are, where you come from, or your nationality.

Eu sou o João. (I am João.)
Ela é brasileira. (She is Brazilian.)

Profession:

Indicating someone’s job.

Nós somos professores. (We are teachers.)
Meu pai é médico. (My father is a doctor.)

Permanent characteristics and qualities:

Describing characteristics that don’t easily change, such as personality or general appearance.

Ele é inteligente. (He is intelligent.)
A casa é grande. (The house is big.)

Dates and time:

Talking about the date, time, or day of the week.

Hoje é segunda-feira. (Today is Monday.)
Que horas são? São duas da tarde. (What time is it? It’s two in the afternoon.)

2️⃣ When to Use ESTAR?

Use estar to describe how you are.

Emotional and health states:

Talking about feelings, mood, or health (usually temporary).

Eu estou feliz. (I am happy.)
Ele está doente. (He is sick.)

Location:

Saying where someone or something is located.

O livro está na mesa. (The book is on the table.)
Nós estamos em casa. (We are at home.)

Temporary conditions:

Describing a condition that can change.

O carro está sujo. (The car is dirty.)
O tempo está bom hoje. (The weather is good today.)

🚨 Attention! Cases Where the Meaning Changes

In some situations, using ser or estar with the same adjective changes the meaning completely. Pay attention:

Ele é bonito. (He is handsome — a characteristic.)
Ele está bonito. (He looks handsome right now — a temporary condition.)
A sopa é boa. (The soup is good — good quality in general.)
A sopa está boa. (The soup tastes good right now.)
Ele é velho. (He is old — age as a characteristic.)
Ele está velho. (He looks old — temporary appearance.)

✍️ Quick Summary

Here’s a small chart to help you memorize the difference:

SER = Permanent • Identity • Origin • Professions • General Characteristics • Dates/Time

ESTAR = Temporary • Feelings • Location • Current Conditions

Verbo	Uso Principal	Exemplo com SER	Exemplo com ESTAR
SER	Identidade, Características, Origem, Profissão, Tempo	Eu sou inteligente.	-
ESTAR	Localização, Estado Temporário, Sentimento	-	Eu estou feliz.