What's the difference between the verbs SER and ESTAR in Spanish?

Understanding thhe difference between ser and estar can be tricky as in English we do not make the distinctions between the two types of "to be", however, there are some simple ways to help you remember the difference: In general, SER is used to describe something permanent whereas ESTAR describes a temporary condition. For example, consider the difference between these two sentences: (1) She is my mother (2) My mother is in the kitchen In (1) the verb to be ("is") decribes a permanent relationship. In (2), it describes a temporary location. So, in Spanish we would say: (1) Es mi madre (2) Mi madre está en la cocina Understanding this basic difference will help you distinguish between SER and ESTAR in more tricky situations.