In Spanish, "ser" and "estar" both translate to "to be" in English, but they are used in different contexts. "Ser" is used to express inherent characteristics, identity, origin, and permanent states, while "estar" is used to express temporary states, location, conditions, emotions, and actions in progress.
For example, you would use "ser" to describe someone's nationality (soy español - I am Spanish) or their profession (él es médico - he is a doctor), because these are inherent characteristics.
On the other hand, you would use "estar" to describe someone's current location (estoy en casa - I am at home) or their temporary emotional state (estoy feliz - I am happy), because these are temporary conditions.
Understanding the difference between "ser" and "estar" is fundamental for Spanish learners as it affects the meaning and interpretation of sentences.
