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A2 Spanish Word Pair

Ser vs Estar: Who You Are or How You Are

ser vs estar

1:05 min video · 3 sentences · 3 key words

Transcript with English

Click a line to hear it, or loop it to shadow it.
  1. 0:15
  2. 0:27
  3. 0:39

About this lesson

Three short moments show when to use ser for identity and estar for location or state.

How to practise

  1. Before each example plays, pick the word that fits and say your answer out loud.
  2. Read the difference card, then repeat every example in the Te toca · Your turn pause.
  3. At the end, check the common mistake so you never make it again.

The difference: ser vs estar

  • ser to be (identity). Who or what someone is
  • estar to be (state). Place and how you feel

Common mistake: Soy cansada hoy. ✗ · Estoy cansada hoy. ✓ (Tiredness is a temporary state, so use estar.)

Which one fits?

Say the missing word out loud first, then open the answer.

  1. Yo ＿＿ Lucía, mucho gusto.

    soy / estoy · Saying who you are, introducing yourself

    Show the answer

    Yo soy Lucía, mucho gusto.

    I'm Lucía, nice to meet you.

  2. ＿＿ en el café, Lucía.

    Soy / Estoy · Telling someone where you are right now

    Show the answer

    Estoy en el café, Lucía.

    I'm in the café, Lucía.

  3. Hoy ＿＿ muy cansada.

    soy / estoy · A temporary feeling today, not who she is

    Show the answer

    Hoy estoy muy cansada.

    Today I'm very tired.

Key words

SpanishEnglishLevel
serto be (identity)
estarto be (state)
cansadatired

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