Olá, queridos alunos! (Hello, dear students!)
“Ela é bonita” (she is pretty) or “ela está bonita” (she is pretty)? Which one is correct?
Both “ela é bonita” and “ela está bonita” are used in Portuguese, but the meaning is slightly different. I’ll explain this in a moment!
Today, you will learn how and when to use the verbs “ser” and “estar.”
This lesson consists of a video and a PDF with exercises for you to practice what you are about to learn. To make the most of what this lesson has to offer, fill out the form below to download your worksheet.
What is the difference between “ser” and “estar”?
The verbs “ser” and “estar” are both translated as “to be” in English, but in Portuguese, they have distinct uses.
In short, the verb “ser” is used to describe permanent, essential, or lasting characteristics, while the verb “estar” is used to describe temporary states, transient conditions or situations.
Let’s start by talking about the use of the verb “ser.”
We use the verb “ser” to talk about identity, nationality, origin, profession, occupation, physical or personality traits, marital status, and relationships.
For example:
Eu sou a Virginia. (I am Virginia.)
Ele é professor. (He is a teacher.)
Eles são brasileiros. (They are Brazilian.)
Nós somos amigas. (We are friends.)
Minha sobrinha é bonita e inteligente. (My niece is beautiful and smart.)
Note that professions and relationships can change at some point, but we use the verb “ser” because they are generally long-lasting things that don’t change overnight.
We also use the verb “ser” to indicate dates, time, and days of the week.
For example:
São 10 horas. (It’s 10 o’clock.)
Hoje é domingo. (Today is Sunday.)
Hoje é 1º de setembro. (Today is September 1st.)
Now let’s talk about the use of the verb “estar.”
We use the verb “estar” to talk about location, temporary emotional, physical, or health states, and to talk about the weather.
For example:
Eu estou cansada. (I am tired.)
Ele está doente. (He is sick.)
Nós estamos em casa. (We are at home.)
Eles estão felizes. (They are happy.)
O dia está lindo! (The day is beautiful!)
We also use the verb “estar” with the progressive to indicate an action in progress.
For example:
Eu estou ministrando uma aula. (I am teaching a class.)
Você está estudando português. (You are studying Portuguese.)
When can I use both verbs?
In some situations, we can use both the verbs “ser” and “estar,” but the meaning changes according to the verb used.
The verb “ser” always conveys an idea of permanence or long duration, while the verb “estar” always conveys an idea of something temporary or fleeting.
Do you know the Brazilian model, Gisele Bündchen? She is very beautiful, isn’t she?
Usually, we use the verb “ser” to say that someone is beautiful.
Gisele é bonita. Gisele é linda. (Gisele is beautiful. Gisele is gorgeous.)
But we can use the verb “estar” to emphasize something temporary.
For example:
A Gisele está muito bonita com aquele vestido. (Gisele is very beautiful in that dress.)
Here, I mean that she is beautiful for a temporary reason.
Ela é bonita, mas está especialmente bonita porque está usando um vestido bonito. (She is beautiful, but she looks especially beautiful because she is wearing a beautiful dress.)
Sometimes we also use the verb “estar” instead of “ser” as a joke or playful remark.
For example:
Pedro é casado, mas sua mulher está viajando. (Pedro is married, but his wife is traveling.)
So, we could joke and say:
Pedro está solteiro hoje! (Pedro is single today!)
It’s a common joke among friends.
If you enjoyed this lesson, you’ll love our courses! At Speaking Brazilian School, we offer digital courses, small group classes, and private lessons. Click here to learn more about our Brazilian Portuguese online classes.
To really grasp what we studied today, you need to keep practicing. That’s why I’ve prepared a PDF with extra exercises. Fill out the form below to download your worksheet.
Até a próxima!
Virginia & Speaking Brazilian Team
