Spanish adjectives that change meaning with "ser" vs "estar"

A list of common Spanish adjectives that change their meaning depending on if they are used with "ser" or "estar"

Spanish vocabulary


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
Estar verde		To be unexperienced
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)