While ser describes what something is, estar describes how it is right now — a state, condition, or situation that could change. Adjectives used with estar report on the current moment rather than defining an essential characteristic.
The Core Idea
Use estar with an adjective to answer: "How is the subject feeling / looking / doing right now?". It's a snapshot, not a definition.
Estoy cansado.
I'm tired.
La sopa está fría.
The soup is cold.
Being tired or having cold soup are temporary situations — they could easily be different tomorrow.
Categories Where Estar Is Used
Certain things almost always call for estar:
1. Emotions and moods
Ana está feliz hoy.
Ana is happy today.
Estamos preocupados por el examen.
We're worried about the exam.
2. Physical condition and health
Mi papá está enfermo.
My dad is sick.
¿Cómo estás?
How are you?
3. Temperature and weather (for specific things)
El café está caliente.
The coffee is hot.
4. Location (physical position of something)
El libro está en la mesa.
The book is on the table.
Lima está en Perú.
Lima is in Peru.
Even though a city's location doesn't change, Spanish uses estar for all physical locations.
5. Results of actions (past participles)
Past participles used as adjectives very often appear with estar, indicating a state that came about as the result of an action.
La puerta está abierta.
The door is open.
Los platos están rotos.
The plates are broken.
See Past Participles as Adjectives for more.
Typical Estar Adjectives
| Category | Adjectives |
|---|---|
| Mood / emotion | feliz, triste, contento, enojado, preocupado, nervioso |
| Health | enfermo, sano, bien, mal, cansado |
| State of things | abierto, cerrado, roto, limpio, sucio, listo |
| Temperature | frío, caliente (when about current state) |
| Availability | ocupado, libre, disponible |
Estoy muy ocupada esta semana.
I'm very busy this week.
Las ventanas están sucias.
The windows are dirty.
Estar + Adjective for Surprise or Change
Estar is also used when something looks different than expected — even if the trait is usually stable.
¡Qué alta estás!
How tall you've gotten!
Estás muy guapo hoy.
You look really handsome today.
Saying "estás guapo" implies that the person looks especially good today, compared to normal. Saying "eres guapo" would be a general statement of their looks.
Some Overlap with Ser
Some adjectives are commonly used with both ser and estar — and the meaning changes depending on which one you choose. Classic examples include aburrido, listo, rico, and verde. For a full list, see Adjectives That Change Meaning with Ser vs Estar.
La película es aburrida.
The movie is boring.
Estoy aburrida.
I'm bored.
Common Mistakes
Don't use ser when you mean a temporary state:
- wrong: Soy cansado hoy.
- right: Estoy cansado hoy. (I'm tired today.)
And don't use estar for identity:
- wrong: Está abogado.
- right: Es abogado. (He's a lawyer.)
Hoy estoy de buen humor.
Today I'm in a good mood.
Pulling It Together
Estoy nervioso por la entrevista de mañana.
I'm nervous about tomorrow's interview.
Related Topics
- Adjectives with SerA1 — Adjectives used with ser describe inherent or defining qualities
- Adjectives That Change Meaning with Ser vs EstarB1 — Some adjectives have different meanings depending on whether you use ser or estar
- Estar: UsesA1 — When to use estar: physical location, temporary states, progressive tenses, and results.