In this post we’ll talk mostly about when to use the verbs ser vs. estar. If you would like to compare the forms of ser and estar, check out these charts with the most common forms of ser and estar!
Brazilian Portuguese Articles
How to use ‘ser’ and ‘estar’ in Brazilian Portuguese?
By: Fabiana Dametto Oliveira Thu Dec 12 2024
In Brazilian Portuguese, both ser and estar are equivalent to the English verbNo definition set for verbLorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. “to be,” but they are used in different contexts. Usually the distinction depends on whether you are describing a permanent/long-term situation (ser) or a temporary situation (estar).
- ser
Eu sou brasileiro.
I am Brazilian.
→ a permanent situation - estar
Pedro está doente.
Pedro is sick.
→ a temporary situation
However, these rules are not absolute. For example, sometimes the meaning of an adjective will change depending on whether you use it with ser or estar. Therefore, it’s important to understand the specific contexts that call for the use of ser vs. estar. Want to know more about the nuances of using these verbs in Brazilian Portuguese? Keep reading!
Tip
Table of Contents
When to use ‘ser’ in Brazilian Portuguese?
In Brazilian Portuguese, the verb ser(to be) expresses characteristics that are intrinsic to a person or a thing. It’s therefore most commonly used to describe a condition that can be considered permanent or that is not often changeable. However, there are also a few situations where ser has other functions as well. Let’s look at all the uses of ser below.
Using ‘ser’ for identifying information
We use ser to provide uniquely identifying information about people, animals, or things. For example, we use ser to give the name of someone or something:
Oi! Eu sou a Juliana e esse é o meu gato Palmito.
Hi! I’m Juliana and this is my cat Palmito.
- Speaker A:
O que é isto na cozinha?
What is this in the kitchen?
Speaker B:Ah, isto é uma lava louças.
Oh, this is a dishwasher.
But we also use ser for other kinds of essentially identifying information, like nationality, occupation, ideology, place of origin, ownership, material (i.e. what something is made of), family relationships, and characteristic qualities (e.g. personality, size, shape,...).
Tip
In English, we use “to be” to talk about age (e.g. “He is four.”), but in Brazilian Portuguese, we use the verb ter(to have) instead, as in:
Felipe tem vinte e três anos.
Felipe is twenty-three years old.
lit. Felipe has twenty-three years.
Therefore, even though age is “identifying information” we don't use ser(to be) to talk about age in Brazilian Portuguese.
Let’s go through some of the most common types of identifying information.
Using ‘ser’ for nationality, occupation, ideology, and origin
Ser(to be) is used to describe someone’s nationality, occupation, ideology, or origin. For example:
- Nationality:
Carlos e Vera são brasileiros.
Carlos and Vera are Brazilian.
- Occupation:
Vera é engenheira.
Vera is an engineer.
- Ideology:
Carlos é católico.
Carlos is Catholic.
- Origin:
O sushi é uma comida japonesa.
Sushi is a Japanese food.
Notice that in all the situations above, ser indicates a permanent (or presumably permanent) state. If it is something that can change (e.g. occupation), it is something that would only change with quite a bit of time and effort.
Important: Using ser + de for nationalities
It’s common to use the structure ser + de (to be + from) for nationalities and to determine the origin of something, as in:
Carlos e Vera são brasileiros. → Carlos e Vera são do Brasil.
Carlos and Vera are Brazilian. → Carlos and Vera are from Brazil.
O sushi é uma comida japonesa. → O sushi é uma comida do Japão.
Sushi is a Japanese food. → Sushi is a food from Japan.
There is no significant difference in meaning.
When using this expression, it’s important to remember to use the contractionsNo definition set for contractionsLorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. that combine de with the following articleNo definition set for articleLorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum., which depends on the genderNo definition set for genderLorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. of the noun.
de + o, a, os, as → do, da, dos, das
Check out our post on definite articles in Brazilian Portuguese to review these contractions!
Using ‘ser + de’ and ‘ser + feito de’ to express what something is made of
We can also use the same structure ser + de(lit. to be of) or ser + feito de(lit. to be made of), to say what something is made out of, as in:
O sushi é de arroz e peixe.
Sushi is (made) of rice and fish.
O sushi é feito de arroz e peixe.
Sushi is made of rice and fish.
Here’s another example:
Este pulôver é de lã.
This pullover is (made) of wool.
Este pulôver é feito de lã.
This pullover is made of wool.
Using ‘ser + de’ to express ownership / possession
You can also use the expression ser + de can express possession or ownership of something, as in:
Este pulôver é do Bruno.
This pullover is Bruno’s.
→ Notice the use contraction of de: do = de + o. This is generally used with expressions of possession.
Using ‘ser’ for family and relationships
We also use the verb ser to talk about the members of the family and to specify relationships.
Eu e Carlos somos casados. Miguel é solteiro.
Carlos and I are married. Miguel is single.
Tainá é filha de Carlos e Vera. Tainá e Felipe são amigos.
Tainá is the daughter of Carlos and Vera. Taina and Felipe are friends.
Check out this list with some words for family members and relationships in Brazilian Portuguese to start practicing!
Using ‘ser’ to express characteristic qualities
The verb ser can also be used to describe other permanent characteristics – features that someone or something has regardless of the situation. Often this means that ser is used to describe personality or permanent physical traits like size, color, texture, and more. For example:
Felipe é alto, simpático e calmo.
Felipe is tall, friendly, and calm.
Estes carros são pretos.
These cars are black.
The examples above describe attributes that are inherent to the subjects (as the traits are part of their identity). The descriptions provide information that allow us to recognize the subjects. These physical aspects and personality traits are not easily changeable, so they are usually used to identify something or someone, which means we use ser!
Important
When used to provide descriptions, the verb ser is commonly followed by an adjectiveNo definition set for adjectiveLorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum., like the ones above. Remember that, adjectives in Brazilian Portuguese, must always agreeNo definition set for agreeLorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. in genderNo definition set for genderLorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. and numberNo definition set for numberLorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. with the noun they modify!
Using ‘ser’ to express permanent location
In Brazilian Portuguese, we describe someone or something’s permanent location with ser. This usage normally refers to the location of cities, countries, and general places.
Roma é na Itália.
Rome is in Italy.
O supermercado não é perto da minha casa.
The supermarket is not close to my house.
Note how both locations above also convey the idea of permanence.
Exception!
We use the verb ser to describe the location of events, even though they are not permanent.
A conferência será no auditório principal.
The conference will be in the main auditorium.
- Speaker A:
Onde é a festa da Paulinha?
Where is Paulinha's party?
Speaker B:A festa da Paulinha é no quintal.
Paulinha's party is in the backyard.
Important: Ser and ficar for permanent location
It’s very common to replace the verb ser with the verb ficar for permanent location.
Roma fica na Itália.
Rome is in Italy.
O supermercado não fica perto da minha casa.
The supermarket is not close to my house.
Although both verbs are correct and interchangeable, ficar appears more often in everyday language.
What are the other uses of ‘ser’ in Brazilian Portuguese?
The verb ser has a few other uses in which it does not describe a permanent situation. We use ser to talk about the time and to construct the passive voice. Let’s review each use!
Using ‘ser’ to talk about time
We use the verb ser to indicate the time of day and to express the date.
Time of day:
We use the verb ser to introduce the time of day:
Já são duas horas.
It’s already two o'clock.
Vamos, é meio-dia!
Come on, it's noon!
O casamento será às oito horas.
The wedding will be at two o'clock.
For more about telling the time in Brazilian Portuguese, check out our other post!
Expressing the date:
The verb ser is used to specify dates, such as days of week, months, and holidays.
Ontem foi domingo.
Yesterday was Sunday.
Hoje é meu aniversário!
Today is my birthday!
O Natal é no dia 25 de dezembro.
Christmas is on the 25th of December.
Check out our post on expressing the date in Brazilian Portuguese to learn more!
Using ‘ser’ in the passive voice
In Brazilian Portuguese, ser is commonly used as an auxiliary verbNo definition set for auxiliary verbLorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. in passive voiceNo definition set for passive voiceLorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. constructions. For example:
auxiliary verbmain verb
A conta foi dividida entre os amigos.
The bill was split among friends.
In the example above, the passive voice is formed with the auxiliary ser in the preterite, followed by the participleNo definition set for participleLorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. form of the verb dividir.
For a full explanation about the use of passive voice in Brazilian Portuguese, don't miss our post!
Important: Verbs ir and ser in the preterite
The verbs ir(to go) and ser(to be) have overlapping forms in the preterite tense. The third person singular preterite of both verbs is foi.
serir
A conta foi dividida.
The bill was split.
Marcos foi ao restaurante.
Marcos went to the restaurant.
However, keep in mind that ir and ser have different meanings and uses, so it’s important to pay attention to the context to distinguish between the two verbs.
When to use ‘estar’ in Brazilian Portuguese?
Unlike ser, the verb estar(to be) typically is used in descriptions of temporary states or situations. It is used to refer to location, emotional or physical feelings, and other conditions that are likely to change. Let’s take a look at some of these situations below.
Using ‘estar’ for feelings, physical states, and conditions
We use the verb estar to refer to physical and emotional states at a particular moment. In this case, estar is followed by an adjective that describes the feeling or state.
Speaker A:
Como você está, Luiza?
How are you, Luiza?
Speaker B:
Hoje eu estou cansada.
Today I’m tired.
In the example above, Luiza expresses a temporary feeling — cansada(tired). Such a feeling is not permanent, since it can easily change; tomorrow, for instance, she may feel happy or relaxed, as we don’t feel the same way everyday.
When to use ‘estar’ vs. ‘estar com’ for a feeling?
In many cases where we describe physical states and conditions, it’s common to use the phrase estar com instead of the plain estar. The difference between the two is that estar com always comes before a noun, while estar comes before an adjective.
estar com
noun
estar
adjective
Compare:
adjectivenoun
Gustavo está preocupado e está com dor de cabeça.
Gustavo is worried and he has a headache.
Let’s look at some cases where estar com is particularly common. Notice, as you read through the examples, that many expressions with estar com are translated into English as “to have” instead of “to be”.
We especially use estar com + noun as a way to refer to illnesses, though this is not universal.
nounEle está com dor de dente e está com gripe.
He has a toothache and he has the flu.
adjectiveEle está gripado.
He has the flu.
→ Compare: He is sick (with flu).It’s also common to use estar com + noun to describe certain physical states and feelings, in many cases those that are linked to a response in the body.
nounEu estou com fome e estou com sono.
I’m hungry and I’m sleepy.
lit. I am with hunger and am with sleepiness.
Estar com can also indicate possession of something.
Speaker A:Paulo, você está com a chave?
Paulo, do you have the key?
Speaker B:Sim, estou.
Yes, I have it.
In the example above, estar com indicates that Paulo is currently holding the keys. We could also say:
Paulo, você tem a chave?
Paulo, do you have the key?
Although both sentences are correct, they slightly differ in meaning: estar com focuses on the key being present and currently accessible with an implied meaning of temporality. Ter, on the other hand, simply asks if the person possesses the key, and not necessarily if they are holding the key right now.
Now, you can check this list to see the most common uses of estar com in Brazilian Portuguese!
Important
The negative form of estar com can be estar sem or não estar com, as in:
Eu estou sem fome.
Eu não estou com fome.
I’m not hungry.
Using ‘estar’ to describe the weather
The verb estar is commonly used when describing the weather, since this is something that can change frequently and quickly.
Hoje está calor na minha cidade, mas amanhã estará frio.
Today it is hot in my city, but tomorrow it will be cold.
Notice that, in this context, estar is used as an impersonal verb, which means that it’s always used in the third-personNo definition set for third-personLorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. singularNo definition set for singularLorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. form. There are many other impersonal expressions that are used in descriptions of the weather. You can take a look at this post about impersonal verbs to see other possible ways to describe weather in Brazilian Portuguese!
Exception!
We can also use the verb ser to talk about the weather. However, ser is used to describe the typical or customary climate in a specific place or during a particular time of the year.
O inverno da Alemanha é frio.
Winter in Germany is cold.
Using ‘estar’ to give a temporary location
Where ser indicates permanent location, the verb estar describes a temporary location. For this reason, estar is commonly used to talk about the location of people or things.
- Speaker A:
Onde você está?
Where are you?
Speaker B:Eu estou em casa.
I am at home.
- Speaker A:
Onde está a minha bolsa?
Where’s my bag?
Speaker B:A sua bolsa está no armário.
Your bag is in the closet.
When it introduces a location, the verb estar is usually followed by the preposition em(in, at) or one of its contractions no, na, nos, nas(in the), depending on the gender and number of the accompanied noun.
What are the other uses of ‘estar’ in Brazilian Portuguese?
Aside from using estar for temporary qualities, you will also use the verb estar in Brazilian Portuguese in progressive tenses and in uses of the passive voice that emphasize the final result of an action. Let’s look at each use one by one.
Using ‘estar’ in progressive tenses
Much like the verb “to be” in English, estar functions as an auxiliary verb in progressive tenses.
auxiliary verbmain verb
Cris está lendo um livro sobre história antiga.
Cris is reading a book about ancient history.
Much like the English “be + verb-ing” structure, a Brazilian Portuguese progressive structure indicates an ongoing action or state and implies that the action is happening at the moment of speech.
Using ‘estar’ to express a final result in the passive voice
Much like ser, the verb estar can be used as an auxiliary verb in the passive voice, where it is followed by a participle of the main verb.
serparticiple
A cidade foi inundada pela chuva.
The city was flooded by the rain.
→ Focuses on the fact that the rain caused a flood
estarparticiple
A cidade estava inundada pela chuva.
The city was flooded by the rain.
→ Focus on the fact that the city is in the state of being flooded
Notice, though, that there is an important difference in focus: in the passive with ser, the emphasis is on the action that led to the result, while the passive voice with estar emphasizes the result of the action.
Important
The adjective morto(dead) is the past participleNo definition set for past participleLorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. of both the verbs morrer(to die) and matar(to kill). When used with estar, morto is related to the final result of a process (from alive to dead), so it is the past participle of morrer(to die). On the other hand, when used with ser in the passive, it focuses on the action, so it is the past participle of matar(to kill).
estarmorrer (to die)
Que pena! As flores estão mortas.
What a shame! The flowers are dead.
sermatar (to kill)
As plantas foram mortas pela seca.
The plants were killed by drought.
‘Ser’ vs. ‘estar’: Some tricky distinctions
Now that you are more familiar with the general usages and contexts in which ser and estar appear, you’ll see that these two verbs can also be followed by the same adjectives, and which verb you use will create a subtle difference in meaning. We'll have a closer look below.
There are certain adjectives in Brazilian Portuguese that can follow either ser or estar. However, after ser they describe inherent or permanent traits while, after estar, they describe temporary traits. For example:
ser
A sua casa é linda.
Your home is beautiful.
→ the house is inherently beautiful (e.g. beautiful architecture)
estar
A sua casa está linda.
Your home looks beautiful.
lit. Your home is beautiful.
→ the house looks beautiful today (e.g. it is clean now)
Let’s see another example:
ser
O bebê é muito fofo.
The baby is very cute.
→ the baby was born cute
estar
O bebê está muito fofo com esse macacão.
The baby looks very cute in this jumpsuit.
lit. The baby is very cute in this jumpsuit.
→ today he looks cute (or especially cute)
In other cases, the adjectives themselves will change meaning more significantly, depending on whether they are used with ser or estar. For example:
ser
A capa do meu livro é verde.
The cover of my book is green.
→ describes the color (permanent)
estar
Não corte este abacate porque ele ainda está verde.
Don’t cut this avocado because it’s still green.
→ describes an unripe fruit (temporary)
Take a look at this handy list of comparing ser and estar followed by the same adjective to see more interesting examples.
Exception!Ser and estar: interchangeable uses
Although ser and estar are usually not interchangeable, there are a few cases in which there is no real difference in meaning:
Eu sou / estou solteira.
I am single.
Meu avô é / está aposentado.
My grandfather is retired.
In summary
You can check this handy summary that outlines the different uses of ser and estar. Keep in mind that:
ser is usually connected to permanent/long-lasting statements or inherent characteristics
estar is used in temporary situations
However, this is not an absolute rule, and context plays an important role in determining which verb to use.
In addition, ser and estar sometimes can be followed by the same adjective, but their usage may vary depending on the context and meaning that you want to convey.
Now you can check out our activity to practice using both ser and estar in Brazilian Portuguese! Happy learning!
