Ser vs estar in Portuguese: when to use each
Last updated 28 October 2026
Portuguese has two verbs for "to be", ser and estar, just like Spanish. The difference is the same idea: ser says what something is, and estar says how or where it is right now. The two verbs behave the same way in Portugal and in Brazil, so this guide applies to both.
Ser: identity and lasting qualities
Use ser for who or what someone is, where they come from, what they do, and what they are like.
- Eu sou a Ana. I am Ana.
- Ele é médico. He is a doctor.
- Somos da Finlândia. We are from Finland.
- A casa é grande. The house is big.
- Hoje é terça-feira. Today is Tuesday.
- São três horas. It is three o'clock.
Use ser for time, dates and days of the week, for nationality and profession, and for events, as in A festa é no sábado (The party is on Saturday).
Estar: states and locations right now
Use estar for a state that can change, such as a mood, a feeling or a condition, and for where something is at the moment.
- Estou cansado. I am tired.
- A sopa está fria. The soup is cold.
- Eles estão em casa. They are at home.
- Estás bem? Are you well?
A change of meaning
Some adjectives change meaning with the verb.
- Ele é calmo. He is a calm person.
- Ele está calmo hoje. He is calm today.
- A Maria é bonita. Maria is pretty.
- A Maria está bonita hoje. Maria looks pretty today.
With ser the adjective describes what the person is like in general. With estar it describes how they are, or look, at this moment.
Places: ser, estar and ficar
For where a person or a movable thing is, use estar. For where a building, a city or another fixed place is located, Portuguese speakers usually use ficar.
- O Rui está em Lisboa. Rui is in Lisbon.
- O museu fica perto da estação. The museum is near the station.
- Onde fica o hotel? Where is the hotel?
Estar in the everyday speech of each country
In Brazil, spoken estar is very often shortened to tá. In Portugal it keeps its full form.
Portugal
- Está bem. All right.
- Estou a ver. I see.
- Como estás? How are you?
- Está tudo bem? Is everything fine?
Brazil
- Tá bom. All right.
- Estou vendo. I see.
- Como você está? How are you?
- Tá tudo bem? Is everything fine?
The estar a and estar -ando forms for "I am doing" are explained in the European and Brazilian overview.
Common mistakes
- Using estar for a profession. Say Sou professor, not Estou professor.
- Using ser for feelings. Say Estou feliz, not Sou feliz, when you mean you are happy right now.
- Using ser for where a city is. Prefer Lisboa fica em Portugal.
Practice
Ele ___ engenheiro.
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