The Present Tense of ser is used to describe permanent or lasting characteristics, states of being, or facts. For example, Yo soy estudiante. (I am a student.)
Ser is an irregular verb, meaning its conjugations do not follow a set pattern across all subjects. You must memorize each form individually.
Conjugations
Conjugations of Ser (to be) in the Present Tense tense (Castilian Spanish):
| Pronoun | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| Yo | soy |
| Tú | eres |
| Él / Ella / Usted | es |
| Nosotros / Nosotras | somos |
| Vosotros / Vosotras | sois |
| Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes | son |
Boost Your Memorization with Audio!
We’ve included audio recordings of the the conjugations of Ser (to be) in the Present Tense to help you learn faster.
Pro Tip: Play the audio on a loop as you study the chart. This repetition will solidify the correct conjugations in your memory.
Usage of Ser in the Present Tense
Ser generally means “to be”, but has several different meanings in the Present Tense, some of which might surprise you.
To describe characteristics or states: For example, Ella es alta (She is tall).
To indicate origin or profession: For example, Soy de Madrid (I am from Madrid). Él es médico (He is a doctor).
To express time: For example, Son las tres (It is three o’clock).
To form the passive voice: For example, La puerta es abierta (The door is opened).
Colloquial usage: For example, ¡Eres la leche! (You’re the best! – literally “You are the milk”).
Rude usage: For example, ¡Eres un idiota! (You are an idiot!).
Examples
Examples of Ser in the Present Tense
Ellos son mis amigos del colegio. (They are my friends from school.)
Nosotros somos una familia muy unida. (We are a very close family.)
Tú eres el mejor cocinero que conozco. (You are the best cook I know.)
¿De dónde eres? (Where are you from?)
Ella es una persona muy trabajadora. (She is a very hard-working person.)
Las noticias son preocupantes hoy. (The news is concerning today.)
Yo soy un apasionado de la música. (I am a music lover.)
¿Ustedes son los nuevos vecinos? (Are you the new neighbors?)
Ellas son muy buenas amigas desde la infancia. (They have been very good friends since childhood.)
¿Cómo es tu nuevo trabajo? (How is your new job?)
Nosotros somos un equipo sólido y comprometido. (We are a solid and committed team.)
La fiesta es en la casa de Juan esta noche. (The party is at Juan’s house tonight.)
Ustedes son bienvenidos a quedarse el tiempo que quieran. (You are welcome to stay as long as you want.)
Ese restaurante es muy popular entre los turistas. (That restaurant is very popular among tourists.)
Ellos son un ejemplo de perseverancia y éxito. (They are an example of perseverance and success.)
Conjugations with English Translations
Conjugations of Ser (to be) in the Present Tense tense (Castilian Spanish) with English Translations:
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| Yo soy | I am |
| Tú eres | You are |
| Él / Ella / Usted es | He / She / You (formal) is |
| Nosotros / Nosotras somos | We are |
| Vosotros / Vosotras sois | You all are |
| Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes son | They / You all (formal) are |
This post covers Castilian Spanish. For Latin American Spanish, click here
Synonyms
The Present tense is also known as the Simple Present, Present Simple, Present Tense, or Present Indicative in English, and as Presente de Indicativo, Presente Simple, Tiempo Presente, or Indicativo Presente in Spanish.