Verb ESTAR (to be - temporary)

Estar functions as a bridge between a person and a state. It connects "you" to "tired." It connects "the keys" to "the table." Unlike its cousin ser, which deals with permanent facts, estar is flexible. It describes things that can change tomorrow. Or even in five minutes! If you are happy now, use estar. If you move to a different room, use estar. It is a very active verb. It requires you to look at the world as a series of states. Is the door open? Estar. Is the water hot? Estar. Is your friend being annoying today? Definitely estar. It is the ultimate "right now" verb. Even native speakers use it to add flavor to their sentences. It tells the listener that what you are saying is a condition, not a permanent trait.

1. 1Learning estar is like learning a secret handshake. It is an irregular verb, so it does not follow the standard -ar rules perfectly. You need to memorize these specific forms.
2. 2For "I" (Eu), use estou.
3. 3For "You/He/She" (Você/Ele/Ela), use está. Notice the accent!
4. 4For "We" (Nós), use estamos.
5. 5For "You all/They" (Vocês/Eles/Elas), use estão.
6. 6Think of the endings as a melody. Estou, está, estamos, estão. Say it out loud three times. It gets easier! The most important part is that little accent on está. Without it, the word means "this" (feminine). Grammar is like a traffic light. One small change changes the whole meaning! Do not skip the accent. Your Portuguese teacher will thank you. And your Brazilian friends will actually understand you.

Use estar for four main categories.

• Location: Where are you? Eu estou em casa (I am at home). Even if you live there forever, location always uses estar. Locations are like GPS coordinates. They are points in space.
• Health and Mood: How do you feel? Eu estou bem (I am well). Ela está triste (She is sad). These things change like the weather.
• Physical States: Is the window open? A janela está aberta. Is the beer cold? A cerveja está gelada. These are conditions of objects.
• Ongoing Actions: Are you studying? Eu estou estudando. This is the "-ing" form in English.

Imagine you are in a job interview. The interviewer asks where you are currently working. You use estar. It shows you are in a current state of employment. Or imagine you are ordering food. You tell the waiter the soup is cold. You use estar. Unless the soup is meant to be a cold gazpacho, then you might have a debate!

Do not use estar for things that define you. Your name is permanent. Your nationality is permanent. Your profession is usually permanent in the eyes of grammar. You would not say Eu estou Pedro. That sounds like you are only Pedro for the weekend! Instead, use ser for those things.

• Do not use it for time: São duas horas (It is two o'clock).
• Do not use it for origin: Eu sou do Brasil (I am from Brazil).
• Do not use it for permanent traits: Ele é alto (He is tall).

Think of it this way: If it is part of your DNA, do not use estar. If it is something you can change by taking a nap or moving your feet, estar is your friend. Using estar for a permanent trait is a classic beginner move. It is like wearing a swimsuit to a funeral. It just feels a bit "off" to a native speaker.

Mixing up ser and estar is the number one mistake. Learners often say Eu sou cansado. This means "I am a tired person by nature." It sounds like you were born tired and will die tired! Use Eu estou cansado instead.

Another big mistake is forgetting the accent on está. In writing, esta means "this." In speaking, the stress is different. Está hits the end of the word hard.

Finally, watch out for the plural. People often say Eles está. No! It must be Eles estão. Think of the "-ão" sound like a big bell ringing. It covers the whole group. Yes, even native speakers mess this up when they speak too fast. But you are a world-class learner. You can do better! Just take a breath and match the subject to the verb.

The biggest contrast is with the verb ser.

• Ser: Permanent, identity, characteristics. Ela é feliz (She is a happy person).
• Estar: Temporary, state, mood. Ela está feliz (She is happy right now).

See the difference? One is about her personality. The other is about her current vibe.

Also, contrast it with ter (to have). In English, we say "I am hungry." In Portuguese, we often say "I have hunger" (Eu tenho fome). But you can also say Eu estou com fome (I am with hunger). Both work! But estar always needs that little com (with) when talking about hunger or thirst. It is like estar needs a buddy to help it describe how you feel.