Skip to main content
All Portuguese (Brazilian) study resources

Study Resource: Summary of ‘ser’ vs. ‘estar’ in Brazilian Portuguese

By: Fabiana Dametto Oliveira

The following is a summary of the differences between ser and estar in Brazilian Portuguese. For a more in-depth explanation, check out our post on ser vs. estar in Brazilian Portuguese.

SerEstar

Use ser for…

  • Identification and description of people or things:

    • Eu sou a Patrícia.
      Translation: I am Patrícia.
    • Esse é meu carro novo.
      Translation: This is my new car.

  • Nationality, occupation, ideology, and origin:

    • Danilo é chileno, professor e católico.
      Translation: Danilo is Chilean, a professor, and Catholic.
    • A pizza é italiana.
      Translation: The pizza is Italian.

  • Material and possession: ser + de:

    Este vaso é de cerâmica e é da Gabriela.
    Translation: This vase is made out of ceramic and is Gabriela’s.

  • Family and relationships:

    • Gabriel é meu irmão.
      Translation: Gabriel is my brother.
    • Angélica e Carlos são colegas.
      Translation: Angelica and Carlos are colleagues.

  • Personality and physical descriptions of people or things:

    • Flávia é simpática, baixa e magra.
      Translation: Flavia is friendly, short, and thin.
    • A casa de Flávia é grande.
      Translation: Flavia’s house is big.

  • Permanent location (for places):

    São Paulo é no Brasil.
    Translation: São Paulo is in Brazil.

  • Time, day, and date:

    • É meia-noite.
      Translation: It is midnight.
    • Hoje é feriado.
      Translation: Today is a bank holiday.
    • Hoje é 22 de março.
      Translation: Today is March 22th.

  • Auxiliary verb in passive voice (focus on the action):

    O livro foi escrito por Marta Medeiros.
    Translation: The book was written by Marta Medeiros.

Use estar for…

  • Feelings, physical states, and conditions:

    • estar + adjective:

      • Ela está animada.
        Translation: She is excited.
      • Ele está doente.
        Translation: He’s sick.

    • estar + com + noun:

      O bebê está com fome.
      Translation: The baby is hungry.

  • Weather:

    Está frio lá fora.
    Translation: It’s cold outside.

  • Temporary location (for people and objects):

    • Meu irmão está no restaurante.
      Translation: My brother is at the restaurant.
    • Os pratos estão no armário.
      Translation: The plates are in the cupboard.

  • In progressive tenses:

    Nós estamos cozinhando.
    Translation: We are cooking.

  • Auxiliary verb in passive voice (focus on the final result):

    As inscrições para o concurso estão encerradas.
    Translation: The entries for the contest are closed.