ser — to be (to have the given quality), especially a quality that is intrinsic or not expected to change, contrasting with estar which denotes a temporary quality; to be (to be an example or type of, or the same as)
ser is the #3 most common word in Portuguese, a verb. It means “to be (to have the given quality), especially a quality that is intrinsic or not expected to change, contrasting with estar which denotes a temporary quality; to be (to be an example or type of, or the same as)” and is pronounced /ˈse(ʁ)/.
#3frequency rank
3.01%of everyday Portuguese text
Level 1Beginner 1
Forms of ser
| Form | What it is | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| sou | I · present | I am |
| fui | I · past | I was |
| sido | past participle | been |
| ser | infinitive | to be |
| ser | I · infinitive | to be |
| seres | you · infinitive | to be |
| ser | he/she · infinitive | to be |
| sermos | we · infinitive | to be |
| serdes | you (pl.) · infinitive | to be |
| serem | they · infinitive | to be |
| sendo | -ing form | being |
| sido | singular · past participle | been |
| és | you · present | you are |
| é | he/she · present | he/she is |
| somos | we · present | we are |
| sois | you (pl.) · present | you (pl.) are |
| são | they · present | they are |
| era | I · imperfect | I used to be |
| eras | you · imperfect | you used to be |
| era | he/she · imperfect | he/she used to be |
| éramos | we · imperfect | we used to be |
| éreis | you (pl.) · imperfect | you (pl.) used to be |
| eram | they · imperfect | they used to be |
| foste | you · past | you were |
| foi | he/she · past | he/she was |
| fomos | we · past | we were |
| fostes | you (pl.) · past | you (pl.) were |
| foram | they · past | they were |
| fora | I · past perfect | I had been |
| foras | you · past perfect | you had been |
| fora | he/she · past perfect | he/she had been |
| fôramos | we · past perfect | we had been |
| fôreis | you (pl.) · past perfect | you (pl.) had been |
| foram | they · past perfect | they had been |
| serei | I · future | I will be |
| serás | you · future | you will be |
| será | he/she · future | he/she will be |
| seremos | we · future | we will be |
| sereis | you (pl.) · future | you (pl.) will be |
| serão | they · future | they will be |
| seria | I · conditional | I would be |
| serias | you · conditional | you would be |
| seria | he/she · conditional | he/she would be |
| seríamos | we · conditional | we would be |
| seríeis | you (pl.) · conditional | you (pl.) would be |
| seriam | they · conditional | they would be |
| seja | I · subjunctive present | (that) I be |
| sejas | you · subjunctive present | (that) you be |