Ser is the verb for essence, identity, and defining characteristics. It describes what or who something is, rather than the temporary state it happens to be in. If you can imagine the quality being part of the subject's fundamental nature, ser is almost always the right choice.
This page is organized by category. For the full paradigm, see Ser: Full Conjugation. For the contrast with estar, see Ser vs Estar: Overview.
Identity and definition
Use ser to say who or what someone or something is. This includes names, classifications, and basic definitions.
Nationality and origin
Ser is always used to state where someone or something is from. The construction is ser + de + place.
Mi novia es argentina, pero sus padres son de Chile.
My girlfriend is Argentinian, but her parents are from Chile.
Este café es de Colombia.
This coffee is from Colombia.
Note that nationality adjectives are not capitalized in Spanish: mexicano, peruano, venezolano.
Profession and occupation
To talk about what someone does for a living, use ser with the profession. No article is needed unless the profession is modified by an adjective.
Mi papá es ingeniero y mi mamá es doctora.
My dad is an engineer and my mom is a doctor.
Ana es una abogada brillante.
Ana is a brilliant lawyer.
Material and composition
Use ser + de to describe what something is made of.
La mesa es de madera y las sillas son de metal.
The table is (made) of wood and the chairs are (made) of metal.
Possession
Ser expresses ownership, again using the preposition de.
Este carro es de mi tío.
This car belongs to my uncle.
Time, dates, and days
All expressions of clock time, calendar date, and day of the week use ser.
Son las tres y media de la tarde.
It is three thirty in the afternoon.
Hoy es lunes, quince de abril.
Today is Monday, the fifteenth of April.
Note that the verb is singular (es) for "one o'clock" and plural (son) for every other hour.
Events: when and where they take place
A frequent source of confusion: to say where an event happens, use ser, not estar. This is because the event itself does not have a location the way a physical object does—rather, it takes place at that location.
La fiesta es en la casa de Marcela.
The party is at Marcela's house.
El concierto será mañana a las ocho.
The concert will be tomorrow at eight.
This contrast is explored further in Ser vs Estar: Tricky Cases.
Relationships
Family relationships, friendships, and other social ties are expressed with ser.
Somos primos lejanos.
We are distant cousins.
Inherent characteristics
This is the big category: physical traits, personality, size, color, shape, and anything else considered a defining property of the subject.
Mi abuela es muy cariñosa y paciente.
My grandmother is very affectionate and patient.
Los elefantes son enormes.
Elephants are huge.
Impersonal expressions
Many impersonal expressions use es + adjective + que or es + adjective + infinitive.
Es importante estudiar todos los días.
It is important to study every day.
Es posible que llueva esta tarde.
It is possible that it will rain this afternoon.
Passive voice
Ser combines with the past participle to form the true passive voice. The participle agrees with the subject in gender and number.
La novela fue escrita en 1967.
The novel was written in 1967.
Los premios serán entregados el viernes.
The prizes will be given out on Friday.
The true passive is less common in Spanish than in English—speakers often prefer the se construction instead. But when it does appear, it always uses ser.
Related Topics
- Ser: Full ConjugationA1 — Complete conjugation of the irregular verb ser across all major tenses and moods.
- Estar: UsesA1 — When to use estar: physical location, temporary states, progressive tenses, and results.
- Ser vs Estar: OverviewA2 — A decision framework for choosing between ser and estar, with mnemonics and a decision tree.