Spanish has two verbs that both mean to be. You already know ser. Estar is the other one. It covers location, how you feel, your health, and a few other situations. Once you know which one to reach for, it clicks fast.
Estar ends in -ar but does NOT follow the regular -ar pattern. Three forms get a written accent. Memorize this one whole.
Estar covers four situations. Location and conditions are the two you'll use most.
Use estar any time you're saying where a person, place, or thing is located, even permanent locations.
How someone's body is doing at this moment. Temporary physical states always use estar.
Emotions, moods, and general state of being in the moment. Not permanent traits, just how things are right now.
Time and dates use ser, not estar. Estar is sometimes confused here. Keep them separate.
Both mean "to be." The difference is what kind of "being" you're talking about. Ser is for permanent or defining traits. Estar is for conditions and location.
These words team up with estar to say exactly where something is. Learn them as phrases, always with de where it belongs.
Tap any card to check your answer.
What's the correct form of estar? Say it out loud, then tap to check.
Decide which verb fits the sentence, then tap to check and see why.
Conjugate ser or estar correctly for each sentence, then check your answers.
Use estar and a preposition of location to describe where each thing is. Tap to check.
Say the full sentence in Spanish, then tap to check.