Portuguese · Everyday Verbs
"to be" in Portuguese: ser
ser
Note: temporary states and location: estar
Portuguese uses two verbs for to be: ser and estar. Ser covers identity and lasting traits, while estar covers location and temporary states. Practice Eu sou… next to Eu estou… every day.
Introducing yourself
Eu sou o Sam, e ser professor é meu trabalho.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce ser
Say it
sair / es-TAHR
/ˈseʁ/
sair for ser; es-TAHR for estar. In Brazil final r often softens.
"to be" in Portuguese: quick reference
| Portuguese | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| ser | to be (identity, lasting traits) Professions, nationality, personality. | Professions, nationality, personality. |
| estar | to be (state, location) Feelings, location, temporary conditions. | Feelings, location, temporary conditions. |
| eu sou | I am (ser) Eu sou brasileiro, Eu sou professora. | Eu sou brasileiro, Eu sou professora. |
| eu estou | I am (estar) Eu estou cansado, Eu estou em casa. | Eu estou cansado, Eu estou em casa. |
| você é / você está | you are Você forms for ser and estar. | Você forms for ser and estar. |
How to use ser in real life
- 1Introducing yourself
Eu sou o Sam, e ser professor é meu trabalho.
I am Sam, and being a teacher is my job.
Sou comes from ser for identity and job.
- 2Saying how you feel
Hoje eu estou feliz, mas ser paciente ajuda.
Today I am happy, but being patient helps.
Estou from estar for a temporary feeling; ser stays for the trait.
- 3Talking about a goal
Quero ser o primeiro a chegar ao escritório.
I want to be the first to arrive at the office.
Ser stays in the infinitive after quero.
Mistakes English speakers make with ser
Incorrect: Ser cansado agora (for a passing feeling)
Correct: Estar cansado agora / Eu estou cansado agora.
Temporary states usually take estar, not ser.
Incorrect: Estar professor.
Correct: Ser professor / Eu sou professor.
Jobs and identity use ser.
Good to know
Brazilian speech leans hard on estar for mood and place: Tudo bem? Estou bem. Ser still anchors who you are. Mixing them is the classic beginner hurdle, so contrast Eu sou / Eu estou in each practice session.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Meeting a new classmate on campus
ChatPal
Oi! Você é novo neste curso? Ser aluno aqui é ótimo.
Hi! Are you new in this course? Being a student here is great.
You
Sou sim. Eu sou o Sam, de Toronto.
Yes, I am. I'm Sam, from Toronto.
ChatPal
Prazer, Sam. Você está perdido no prédio?
Nice to meet you, Sam. Are you lost in the building?
You
Um pouco. Quero ser pontual na primeira aula.
A little. I want to be on time for the first class.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"to be" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "to be" in Portuguese
When do I use ser?
For who someone is, jobs, nationality, and lasting qualities: Ela é médica.
When do I use estar?
For location and temporary states: Ela está em casa; Ela está cansada.
How do I say you are with você?
Você é for ser, você está for estar.
Is there a third to-be verb?
Ficar sometimes covers becoming or ending up, but start with ser and estar.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
