So you wanna know how to say "it is" in Spanish? Look, I get it. When I first started learning, I thought this would be simple. Spoiler: it's not. But after living in Madrid for two years and making every mistake imaginable, I finally cracked the code. Let me save you the embarrassment I went through.
Here's the raw truth they don't tell you in textbooks: "It is" doesn't exist in Spanish. Yeah, you heard that right. There's no direct translation. Instead, you've got two verbs doing the heavy lifting: ser and estar. Mess this up and you might accidentally call someone permanently boring instead of temporarily bored. Awkward.
Why You Keep Getting "It Is" Wrong in Spanish
Remember that viral TikTok where someone said "estoy caliente" thinking it meant "I'm warm"? Yeah, they actually said "I'm horny". That's what happens when you mix up ser and estar. Let's break this down properly.
Ser is for permanent stuff. Like your DNA or your personality. Estar is for temporary states and locations. Like moods or where you parked your car. Problem is, real life isn't that clean-cut. Take death. You say "está muerto" (he's dead) even though death is pretty permanent. Spanish logic, folks.
The Core Differences That Actually Matter
| When to Use SER | When to Use ESTAR | Real-Life Consequences If Wrong |
|---|---|---|
| Identity (soy Ana - I'm Ana) | Location (estoy en casa - I'm home) | People might show up at your house unexpectedly |
| Origin (es de México - he's from Mexico) | Temporary conditions (está enfermo - he's sick) | You'll offer chicken soup to perfectly healthy people |
| Permanent traits (es alto - he's tall) | Emotions (estoy feliz - I'm happy) | You'll assume happy people are genetically cheerful |
| Time/date (son las tres - it's 3 o'clock) | Opinions (está rico - it tastes good) | You'll think the restaurant changed ownership daily |
I once told my host mom "la sopa es rica" thinking I complimented her cooking. She looked crushed. Why? Because "es rica" implies the soup is fundamentally delicious - like a factory-made product. "Está rica" would've meant her specific effort was tasty that day. Cultural landmine avoided.
Verb Conjugations That Won't Make You Cry
The ugly truth? You MUST memorize these. No shortcuts. But here's how I finally drilled them into my head:
Yo soy (I am)
Tú eres (you are)
Él/Ella es (he/she is) ← This is your "it is" MVP!
Nosotros somos (we are)
Vosotros sois (you all are)
Ellos son (they are)
ESTAR (to be - temporary)
Yo estoy (I am)
Tú estás (you are)
Él/Ella está (he/she is) ← Your other "it is" workhorse
Nosotros estamos (we are)
Vosotros estáis (you all are)
Ellos están (they are)
Pro tip: Stick "él es" and "él está" on post-its around your bathroom mirror. After two weeks of brushing your teeth staring at them, they'll stick. Weird but effective.
When English Tricks You into Mistakes
Okay let's tackle specific trouble spots where even advanced learners faceplant:
- Weather: Never say "es lluvioso" for "it's rainy". Actual Spanish: "está lloviendo" (it's raining) or "hace mal tiempo" (the weather's bad).
- Temperature: "Hace calor" (it's hot) - not "es caliente". Save that one for... other contexts.
- Existence: Use "hay" for "there is". Need to say "there is a problem"? "Hay un problema". Easy peasy.
My most cringe moment? Trying to say "the store is open" during siesta hour. Said "la tienda es abierta" (the store is inherently open) instead of "está abierta" (it's currently open). Got laughed out of three shops.
Life-Saving Tricks That Actually Work
After burning my hand on the stove of Spanish mistakes, here's my survival kit:
Ser vs Estar Decision Tree
Ask these questions in order:
- Is it a location? → ESTAR
- Is it a temporary condition/state? → ESTAR
- Is it a fundamental characteristic? → SER
- Still unsure? → Say it in English first. If "is" feels permanent, use SER.
Funny story: I used to carry a cheat sheet in my wallet until my Spanish friend saw it and teased me mercilessly. But you know what? It worked. Better than being misunderstood.
Situations You'll Actually Encounter
Let's get practical with scenarios where you'll need "it is":
| Situation | Correct Phrase | Pronunciation Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Finding restrooms | ¿Dónde está el baño? (Where is the bathroom?) | "dohn-deh es-tah el bah-nyo" |
| Ordering food | ¿Está picante? (Is it spicy?) | Drop the 's' - "eh-tah pee-cahn-teh" |
| At the hospital | ¿Es grave? (Is it serious?) | "grah-veh" not "grave" like English |
| Shopping | ¿Es de cuero? (Is it leather?) | "kweh-ro" - roll the R slightly |
Notice how many situations use estar? That's why tourists sound robotic - they overuse ser. I still remember confidently telling a street vendor "¡es bueno!" about his handmade necklace. He sighed and muttered "sí, gracias". My friend later informed I'd basically said "your craft meets minimum quality standards". Oops.
Regional Variations That'll Save Your Bacon
Here's what travel guides won't tell you: Spanish changes like crazy across regions. Want proof?
- In Mexico: "Está padre" means "it's cool" (literally "it's father")
- In Spain: "Está guay" same meaning
- In Argentina: "Está re copado" - again same idea
But here's the kicker: all these use estar for temporary coolness. Because even awesomeness is fleeting apparently. Meanwhile:
Spain: "Es de verdad?" = Standard "is it true?"
Argentina: "Es posta?" = Same question, different flavor
When I first heard "es neta" in Mexico City, I thought someone was asking about fishing nets. True story.
Dead Giveaways You're Using Google Translate
Want to sound like a human? Avoid these robotic tells:
AI-Generated Red Flags
- Overusing "es" for everything
- Saying "es lluvioso" instead of "está lloviendo"
- Literal translations like "eso es bueno" for "that's good" (natives say "está bien")
- Using "usted es" constantly in casual settings
My Spanish teacher Carmen used to cringe when I'd say "yo soy hambriento" (I am hungry like a wolf's permanent state). She'd dramatically clutch her heart. "¡Por Dios! Di 'tengo hambre' o 'estoy hambriento' si quieres sonar como Don Quijote!" Translation: say "I have hunger" or risk sounding like a medieval knight.
Burning Questions Real People Actually Ask
How do you say "it is what it is" in Spanish?
You'll hear "es lo que hay" (literally "it's what there is") or "las cosas son como son" (things are as they are). Mexicans might shrug and say "ni modo". Important: don't translate word-for-word - it sounds ridiculous.
Why do Spanish speakers say "son las" for time?
Hours are feminine plural in Spanish! "La hora" (the hour) becomes plural: "son las tres" (it is three hours). Exception: 1:00 uses singular "es la una". Mess this up and people might think you're announcing a musical performance.
How to say "it is possible" correctly?
"Es posible" for general possibilities ("it's possible to travel") vs "está posible" for something currently achievable ("the download is possible now"). But honestly? Natives use "se puede" ("can one?") way more often: "¿Se puede entrar?" (Is it possible to enter?)
What's up with "hace" for weather?
Blame Latin. "Hace calor" means "it makes heat". Other relics: "hace frío" (it makes cold), "hace sol" (it makes sun). Don't overthink it - just memorize these three and you're golden.
When would I use "está siendo"?
When something is temporarily acting unlike itself: "Mi jefe está siendo amable" (My boss is being nice - implying this is unusual behavior). It's the progressive form of estar. Use sparingly though - it's not common.
Last week, my neighbor asked why her Spanish tutor corrected "es difícil" to "está difícil" for her math homework. I explained: "es difícil" means math is fundamentally hard (true for many). "Está difícil" means THIS specific problem is tough right now. Her relief was visible - she thought she'd insulted mathematics itself.
Why You Still Sound Like a Gringo (And How to Fix It)
Confession time: after two years in Spain, I still sometimes hesitate between ser and estar. But natives appreciate the effort more than perfection. Here's what finally made it click for me:
- Stop translating: When you see clouds, think "está nublado" directly
- Learn chunks: Memorize phrases like "¿cómo está el clima?" (how's the weather?) whole
- Embrace mistakes: When I mixed up "soy aburrido" (I'm boring) and "estoy aburrido" (I'm bored), my friends laughed WITH me after I bought the next round
Final reality check: if you memorize nothing else, drill "es" for permanent facts and "está" for changing situations. That covers 90% of cases. For the other 10%? Buy a local a drink and ask nicely. Works better than any textbook.
Look, learning how to say "it is" in Spanish isn't about grammar perfection. It's about not accidentally telling your mother-in-law her cooking is fundamentally flawed. Trust me on that one. Now go forth and conjugate responsibly.
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