What are two ways to say it is in Spanish?

How to say hello and goodbye

Who? What? When? Where? Why? How to ask questions in Spanish

The two kinds of address and when to use each one

How to get more than one of something

The difference between "the" and "a", and how to say these in Spanish

How to say you don't know what you're doing

Where to put them and how to use them

How to know when to say yo soy vs. when to say yo estoy.

The ultimate icebreaker

How to talk about how you're feeling using the verbs estar and sentirse

9 Spanish words that seem similar to English, but are actually dangerously different

How to ask and give the time in Spanish

How to know whether to use estar or haber when talking about something's existence

Bigger, smaller, faster, slower: How to compare two things and use superlatives in Spanish

How to ask directions, and a few common prepositions that will help you get there

How to talk about illnesses and afflictions in Spanish

the two ways of saying “to be” in Spanish, and when to use each one

What are two ways to say it is in Spanish?

Unlike English, Spanish has two forms of the verb "to be".

("To be" is the really common verb that lets us say that "he is in the hot air balloon", or "they are fantastic socks", or "I am a snappy dresser".)

The two forms of "to be" in Spanish are Ser and Estar

I'll explain when to use each one in a moment, but first let's see what they look like. Here's how to say "I am...", "you are...", "they are..." etc, using both ser and estar.

you all are
(Latin American Spanish)

you all are
(European Spanish)

When to use "ser"

You'll use words from the "ser" column when you're talking about permanent states or characteristics.

Our girl María is smart. Not just today, but all the time. So we use ser, because we're talking about a permanent characteristic.

Likewise, Jose is going to stay an architect, I'm going to continue to be tall, and I will always be brothers with my brother. So in all these cases you would use ser

But when I'm talking about my friend who is in the hot air balloon (a distinctly non-permanent situation) I would use estar instead.

When to use "estar"

Estar (and its various forms) is used when talking about something that is a non-permanent state or location.

Los perros están en mi casa

The dogs are at my house

All of these situations are not permanent states or characteristics, so we use estar. Maria has been well in the past and will hopefully get better, so that's not permanent. Juan isn't nailed to his floorboards, so that's not permanent either.

In particular, you would always use estar when you're talking about someone being at a particular location — since people can and do move around!

Mi amigo está en la oficina

Correct. "My friend is at the office"

Mi amigo es en la oficina

Nope. This loosely translates to "my friend exists at the office" which is a weird thing to say.

A good way to see the difference is to pay another visit to Maria:

Maria looks pretty today / at this particular moment

If you use ser, then Maria is a pretty girl in general. If you use estar, it might be because she's dressed up for a party. One is a permanent characteristic, and the other is a temporary state.

Got your attention? Great! To be perfectly clear, there’s nothing wrong with saying de nada in most situations. You can use it with your friends or with your boss, regardless if you are in a formal or informal setting. That's why it is such a common phrase to use when you want to say “you're welcome;” but there are so many other phrases you can hear or you can use - why would you just want to limit yourself to one? In this article we’ll cover 15 different ways to say “you’re welcome” in Spanish.

#1. No es nada - It’s nothing, or it’s not a big deal

This is a very casual way of saying you're welcome. When someone helps you with something and then you say “Oh, gracias”, the other person can say “no es nada”. 

2. Está bien - It’s all good 

This is also very casual. When one says “muchas gracias por tu ayuda”, you can respond with “oh, está bien”. 

3. No hay problema - It’s no problem

This is a very easy and simple way of saying you’re welcome in Spanish. 

4. No te preocupes (informal) - No worries

You can also say no se preocupe, for a more formal setting which means “no worries” or “don’t worry”. 

What are two ways to say it is in Spanish?

5. No hay de que / No hay de que preocuparse - There’s nothing to worry about

This one is very similar to number four. It also has that relaxed vibe to it. 

6. No tienes nada que agradecer - Think nothing of it

You don't hear this a lot in Mexico. It’s not a very common phrase, but it's good to know just in case you do come across it. This is more used by older people or someone, maybe in a little bit more of a formal setting. 

7. ¿Qué agradeces? - What are you thanking me for? 

It’s interesting because it's kind of like a question but it’s said like a statement. It’s like “what are you thanking me for; it's something so small I already forgot about it. It's no big deal”.

8. Gracias a ti / A ti - Thank you

 This phrase is very basic but very useful. It means “you're welcome and thank you”. 

What are two ways to say it is in Spanish?

9. Con gusto - Happy to help

This literally translates to “with pleasure.” It’s a really friendly way of answering “thank you.”

10. Para eso estamos - That’s what we’re here for

This phrase is usually used by someone who has an obligation towards you, like your parents. 

If you are talking to your friends you can say this phrase instead, “para eso estamos los amigos”, which means, “that’s what friends are for”.

11. A la orden - At your service

This one you’ll hear a lot more in a service industry or someone who has an obligation to help you. 

12. Es un placer - It’s my pleasure

This is also commonly used in the service industry.

What are two ways to say it is in Spanish?

13. Estamos para servirte (informal) - We’re here to serve you

The formal way of saying this is “estamos para servirle.” Can also be said, “para servirte (informal) or para servirle (formal),” and means “we’re here to serve you” or simply, “at your service.” These are phrases that you will likely hear in a service industry like a hotel or restaurant. 

14. Hoy por ti, mañana por mí - Today for you, tomorrow for me

This roughly translates to “scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours,” which means that you are both taking care of each other. This is not usually used in casual conversations, but may be heard on a TV show or read in a book. 

15. Gracias, las que te adornan - Grace is what’s adorning you

This is a flirty way of responding to “gracias,” but does not literally mean “welcome.” It’s more of complimenting someone of his or her physical appearance.

Get Out and Practice!

Use these phrases the next time you travel to Spanish-speaking countries or make a conversation with someone in Spanish - and make an impression on more than just de nada.

Looking for more real-world lessons? Check out our “how-to” playlist where we show you how to use your Spanish in real-life situations.

How do u say it is what it is in Spanish?

If you'd like to say “it is what it is” in Spanish you can use “es lo que es.” Some speakers also use “las cosas son como son.” Although it is technically plural and translates to “things are what they are,” it is used in singular and plural situations in conversation.

What are the two ways to say to be in Spanish?

The two forms of "to be" in Spanish are Ser and Estar.

What is the correct way to say this in Spanish?

How to Say This in Spanish. If you are using “this” as a pronoun or adverb, you'd say “este” (masculine) or “esta” (feminine). If the noun is neutral, you can use “esto”.

Why are there 2 different forms of the word you in Spanish?

In Spanish, however, there are many ways to say you, and they vary depending on the formality of the relationship between the speaker(s) and listener(s), how many people are being spoken to, and even what country the people are in or are from.