In Spanish, the verbs “ser” and “estar” both translate to “to be” in English, but they’re used in different contexts. This guide focuses on vocabulary related to professions (using “ser”) and current states or activities (using “estar”).
Professions with “Ser”
“Ser” is used to describe inherent qualities, including professions. Here’s an expanded list of professions:
Healthcare
- Médico/a (doctor)
- Enfermero/a (nurse)
- Dentista (dentist)
- Farmacéutico/a (pharmacist)
Education
- Profesor/a (teacher)
- Maestro/a (elementary school teacher)
- Instructor/a (instructor)
- Bibliotecario/a (librarian)
Technology and Engineering
- Ingeniero/a (engineer)
- Programador/a (programmer)
- Diseñador/a web (web designer)
- Analista de sistemas (systems analyst)
Arts and Creative Fields
- Artista (artist)
- Músico/a (musician)
- Escritor/a (writer)
- Actor/Actriz (actor/actress)
Business and Finance
- Contador/a (accountant)
- Abogado/a (lawyer)
- Empresario/a (entrepreneur)
- Gerente (manager)
Example: “Ella es médica y él es profesor.” (She is a doctor and he is a teacher.)
Current Roles and Activities with “Estar”
“Estar” is used for temporary states or conditions. Here’s an expanded list of current roles and activities:
Work-related States
- De guardia (on duty)
- Trabajando (working)
- En una reunión (in a meeting)
- De baja por enfermedad (on sick leave)
Leisure and Time Off
- De vacaciones (on vacation)
- De descanso (resting)
- De viaje (traveling)
- De excursión (on an excursion)
Temporary Conditions
- Ocupado/a (busy)
- Libre (free, available)
- Estresado/a (stressed)
- Cansado/a (tired)
Ongoing Activities
- Estudiando (studying)
- Cocinando (cooking)
- Leyendo (reading)
- Escribiendo (writing)
Example: “Estoy de guardia hoy y ella está de vacaciones.” (I’m on duty today and she is on vacation.)
Practice Sentences
- María es ingeniera, pero ahora está de vacaciones en la playa. (Maria is an engineer, but now she is on vacation at the beach.)
- Aunque soy profesor, hoy estoy de guardia en el hospital como voluntario. (Although I am a teacher, today I am on duty at the hospital as a volunteer.)
- Los artistas están trabajando en una nueva exposición en el museo. (The artists are working on a new exhibition at the museum.)
- El médico está ocupado atendiendo a los pacientes en la clínica. (The doctor is busy attending to the patients at the clinic.)
- Somos programadores y estamos en una reunión importante con el cliente. (We are programmers and we are in an important meeting with the client.)
Conclusion
Remember: Use “ser” for professions (what someone is) and “estar” for current states or activities (how someone is at the moment). Expanding your vocabulary in both categories will greatly enhance your ability to describe people and situations accurately in Spanish. ¡Mucho éxito! (Much success!)