Spanish

Ser

Learn how to use ser for identity, origin and basic descriptions.

5 min

The idea

Ser means “to be” for identity and defining information.

Use ser to say who someone is, where they are from and what something is.

Ser in the present

01soysoyI am02eresEH-resyou are03eshe, she or you formal is04somosSOH-moswe are05soisyou all are, Spain06sonthey or you all are

Use ser for identity

01Soy Alex.I’m Alex.02Soy canadiense.I’m Canadian.03Soy estudiante.I’m a student.04Somos amigos.We’re friends.

Use ser for origin

01Soy de Canadásoy deh kah-nah-DAH.I’m from Canada.02Ella es de España.She’s from Spain.03Somos de Toronto.We’re from Toronto.04¿De dónde eres?deh DON-deh EH-resWhere are you from?

Spanish often drops the subject pronoun because the verb already shows who.

With pronoun

Yo soy canadiense.

Natural everyday form

Soy canadiense.

Common mistake

Do not use ser to say where you are physically located.

Soy en Valencia is wrong for location. For location, Spanish uses estar: Estoy en Valencia.

Build real sentences

01Soy de Canadá, pero vivo en Valencia.I’m from Canada, but I live in Valencia.02¿Eres de aquí?Are you from here?03No, soy de Madrid.No, I’m from Madrid.04Somos nuevos aquí.We’re new here.

Remember this

Use ser for what you are and where you are from.

Soy Alex. Soy canadiense. Soy de Canadá. Identity first; physical location comes later with estar.

Lesson complete

Reviewed 2026-09-07

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