What's the difference between SER and ESTAR in Spanish?

Hello, everybody!

Today we are going to learn a little about how to make the correct conjugation of the verbs SER and ESTAR in Spanish.

SER and ESTAR: What's the difference?

We are going to use SER to say facts in long time and ESTAR for short time facts. 

Example 1:

• Ella es rubia (She is blond).

She was born blond and maybe she changed the color of her hair any time, but the fact is that she is blond.

• Ella está rubia (She is blond)

In this second case, she wasn't born blond but she went to the salon to paint her hair for a time. Maybe later she will come back to be blond or she can choose another color.

Example 2:

• Yo estoy libre. (He is free)
• Yo soy libre (He is free).

In the first case "YO ESTOY LIBRE" can make reference to the fact that today this person have time for doing something. Maybe he usually works at this time but today was a free day in job, and for this reason YO ESTOY LIBRE.

When we say YO SOY LIBRE, the person tries to say that he is not an slave of anything or anybody. He can enjoy his freedom without problems even if maybe he can't today go out with his friends because he has to work. But his freedom is a fact.

Example 3:

• Nosotros estamos felices (We are happy).
• Nosotros somos felices (We are happy).

When we say NOSOTROS ESTAMOS FELICES, we try to say that something great happened and it gave us happiness, and that's why we have this feeling right now.

And when we say NOSOTROS SOMOS FELICES, we try to say that we had a very good life during a long time, maybe with some problems as every person, but in general we can't complain about it.

Examples 4:

• Yo estoy casado (I'm married).
• Yo soy casado (I'm maried).

If we say YO ESTOY CASADO, we are trying to be clear our current situation. Maybe a woman tried to kiss us or to flirt us and we show our marriage ring and say: ". Lo siento. Yo estoy casado" (I'm sorry. I'm married).

If we say YO SOY CASADO, we are just giving the information in a simple way. Maybe for one survey where the interviewer asks us our marital status.

WELL. I hope this explanation helped you to understand better the differences with SER y ESTAR in Spanish. 

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ENCICLOVIA.