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- Spanish adjectives that change meaning with "ser" vs "estar" verbs
Spanish adjectives that change meaning with "ser" vs "estar" verbs
A list of common Spanish adjectives that change their meaning depending on if they are used with "ser" or "estar"
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Ser listo/lista | | To be clever |
Estar listo/lista | | To be ready |
Ser negro/negra | | To be black (skin colour) |
Estar negro/negra | | To be furious |
Estar negro/negra | | To be tanned |
Ser verde | | To be green (colour) |
Ser verde | | To be dirty (joke, old man, film) |
Estar verde | | To be green/unripe |
Ser limpio/limpia | | To be clean (a clean person) |
Estar limpio/limpia | | To not have any money |
Estar limpio/limpia | | To be clean (of drugs/alcohol etc) |
Ser católico/católica | | To be a Catholic |
(No) estar católico/católica | | (Not to) be in good health |
Ser malo/mala | | To be a bad person (morally) |
Ser malo/mala | | To be naughty |
Estar malo/mala | | To be ill/sick |
Estar malo/mala | | To be off (related to food, e.g. stale or mouldy) |
Ser vivo/viva | | To be a dynamic, outgoing person |
Estar vivo/viva | | To be alive |
Ser despierto/despierta | | To be smart/alert |
Estar despierto/despierta | | To be awake |
Ser delicado/delicada | | To be delicate/sensitive |
Estar delicado/delicada | | To be fragile health-wise |
Ser atento/atenta | | To be attentive/considerate |
Estar atento/atenta | | To be paying attention |
Ser bueno/buena | | To be good (a good person) |
Estar bueno/buena | | To be tasty (food and drink) |
Estar bueno/buena | | To be sexually attractive ("fit/hot" person) |
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