Ser: to be
Pronunciation: sehr (stress the capital letters)
Ser means “to be” in English.
Quick answer
- Meaning: to be (identity, origin, description)
- How to say it: sehr
- Present: yo soy, tú eres
- Level: Beginner (A1)
What “ser” means and how to use it
Ser is one of the two Spanish verbs for “to be.” Use it for who or what something is: identity, profession, nationality, origin, time, and lasting traits.
Other translations: to exist (rarely).
How to conjugate “ser”
| Who | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| yo | soy | I |
| tú | eres | you (informal) |
| él, ella, usted | es | he, she, you (formal) |
| nosotros | somos | we |
| ellos, ustedes | son | they, you all |
| Past (preterite) | yo fui, él fue | I / he or she |
| Past participle | sido | used with haber |
A closer look at “ser”
When to use ser
Use ser to say what something is. Think of the word DOCTOR: Description, Occupation, Characteristic, Time, Origin, Relationship. Examples: Soy profesor (occupation). Es alta (description). Son las cinco (time). Somos de México (origin). Es mi hermano (relationship).
Ser or estar?
Ser describes identity and lasting traits. Estar describes location, moods, and results of an action. Compare “Es aburrido” (he is boring) and “Está aburrido” (he is bored). Our full lesson explains the difference with a quiz.
Examples with audio
- Soy estudiante.I am a student.
- Mi casa es grande.My house is big.
- Son las tres de la tarde.It is three in the afternoon.
Usage tip
Use ser for what something is, and estar for how or where it is right now. “Es aburrido” means he or it is boring, while “está aburrido” means he is bored.
Frequently asked questions
How do you say “to be” in Spanish?
“to be” in Spanish is “ser.” It is pronounced sehr, with the stress on the syllable in capital letters.
How do you pronounce “ser”?
Say sehr. The syllable in capital letters gets the stress. Press the speaker button at the top of this page to hear it.
What is the past tense of “ser”?
In the preterite, “yo” is “fui” and “él” is “fue.” The past participle is “sido.”
Practice “ser” for free
Reading helps, but practice makes it stick. Try short exercises with instant feedback.
Practice Spanish for free with Leo Read the lesson: Ser vs. Estar in Spanish