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
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”.
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”.
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.
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.