One of the difficult things for English speakers to learn in Portuguese is to distinguish between estar and ser, which both mean to be. Let’s review this very important concept.
First, let’s take a look at how we conjugate both in the present simple tense, since they have similar conjugations.
ser
eu sou
tu és
ele/ela/você é
nós estamos somos
eles/elas/vocês são
estar
eu estou
tu estás
ele/ela/você está
nós estamos
eles/elas/vocês estão
Next, let’s look at how we use each.
Ser is used for permanent conditions, permanent physical characteristics, to describe a profession or nationality, or location.
Sou muito alta. I’m very tall.
A menina é angolana. The girl is Angolan.
Ele é bombeiro. He’s a fireman.
O prédio famoso é na França. The famous building is in France.
Estar is used for temporary or transient conditions.
Você está muito doente. You’re very sick.
Nós estamos com fome. We’re hungry.
O pássaro está na gaiola. The bird is in the cage.
A pizza está quente. The pizza is hot.
It’s important to note that the main difference between the two is that ser is used for something that is hard or impossible to change or defines something or someone, while estar is used for something happening temporarily that can easily change.
Finally, let’s look at the two side by side.
Caramba, você está linda! Wow, you look pretty!
In this case, the beauty is understood as being a temporary condition, with an implied “now” or “today” as a part of the statement.
Caramba, voce é linda! Wow, you’re pretty!
This is a compliment, since it means the girl is beautiful, all the time, as something that defines her.
Comments:
Ed:
Does Portuguese have the same few quirky “permanent” conditions that still use “estar” instead of “ser”?
One example that comes to mind is the Spanish “estar muerte”, to be dead.
Death is pretty permanent, but “estar” is used because death is not an inherent characteristic of a person, but rather is considered a condition imposed upon the body.
Bob:
I think that it would be wise to talk about the exceptions to the rule, since some are very important. About being dead for instance.
Billy:
I have a question and couldn’t find a place to submit:
How similar is the portuguese spoken in brazil compared to Angola. I am planning a trip to Angola and can only find info on “Brazilian portuguese”?
Thanks
margaret nahmias:
The main expection for ser in Portuguese is the use for locations of bulidings and places. In Spanish ser is only used for locations of events. Alternatively, you can use ficar to avoid the confusion. Also to talk about being married you use ser instead of estar. Example Eu sou casado. You learn the uses of these verbs little by little. If you know Spanish, you just have to learn the expections like these because the uses are similar.