Expressing 'to be' (ser vs. estar) — Brazilian Portuguese Grammar

The verbs and both translate to 'to be' in English, but they are not interchangeable. The choice between them depends on whether you are describing a fundamental characteristic or a temporary state or location. A helpful way to think about it is that often describes what something is, while describes how it is or where it is.

Using 'Ser' (Essence and Characteristics)

is used to describe essential qualities, characteristics, and identities that are considered inherent or long-term.

To describe inherent qualities and characteristics

This includes personality, physical descriptions, and the nature of an object.

Ele é muito inteligente.
He is very intelligent.
A casa é grande e amarela.
The house is big and yellow.
O gelo é frio.
Ice is cold.

To identify people and things

This covers professions, nationalities, relationships, and religious or political affiliations.

Eu sou professor.
I am a teacher.
Eles são do Rio de Janeiro.
They are from Rio de Janeiro.
Maria é minha prima.
Maria is my cousin.

To express time, dates, and seasons

Agora é uma hora da tarde.
It is one o'clock in the afternoon now.
Hoje é quinta-feira.
Today is Thursday.
No Brasil, dezembro é verão.
In Brazil, December is summer.

To indicate origin or what something is made of

Este anel é de ouro.
This ring is made of gold.
Eu sou de Curitiba.
I am from Curitiba.

To describe the location of an event

This is a key exception to the general rule that location uses . When talking about where an event like a party, concert, or meeting takes place, use .

A reunião é na sala 3.
The meeting is in room 3.
O show vai ser no estádio.
The concert will be at the stadium.

Using 'Estar' (States and Locations)

is used for temporary conditions, moods, physical locations, and ongoing actions.

To describe temporary states and conditions

This includes feelings, moods, health, and physical conditions that can change.

Eu estou cansado hoje.
I am tired today.
A porta está aberta.
The door is open.
Nós estamos doentes.
We are sick.

To indicate physical location

This applies to the location of people, animals, and objects.

Onde você está?
Where are you?
Os meus óculos estão na mesa.
My glasses are on the table.
O cachorro está no jardim.
The dog is in the garden.

To form the present progressive tense

is combined with the gerund ( form of a verb) to describe an action happening right now.

Ela está lendo um livro.
She is reading a book.
O que você está fazendo?
What are you doing?

To talk about weather

Since weather is changeable, it is typically described with .

Está chovendo muito.
It is raining a lot.
Estava frio ontem.
It was cold yesterday.

When the Meaning Changes

For some adjectives, the choice between and changes the meaning of the sentence. Using implies a permanent characteristic, while implies a temporary state.

bonito/a (beautiful/handsome)

Ela é bonita.
She is a beautiful person (an inherent quality).
Ela está bonita com esse vestido.
She looks beautiful in that dress (a temporary appearance).

chato/a (boring, annoying)

O filme é chato.
The movie is boring (its nature).
Meu irmão está chato hoje.
My brother is being annoying today (his current behavior).

calmo/a (calm)

Ele é um homem calmo.
He is a calm man (his personality).
O mar está calmo esta manhã.
The sea is calm this morning (its current condition).

In the course

Sentences from Lingora’s Brazilian Portuguese course

244 of the course's 500 sentences use this, the first in lesson 2. A few of them, with the words “Expressing 'to be' (ser vs. estar)” is about in bold:

Esta é minha amiga, Anna. Ela é uma estudante.
This is my friend, Anna. She is a student.
Lesson 2
Ele também está dormindo. Ela não está.
He is also sleeping. She isn't.
Lesson 16
Como você está se sentindo? Bem ou mal?
How are you feeling? Good or bad?
Lesson 61

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