Estar — dočasné 'být'

Estar is the second Portuguese "to be". It describes the state something is in at the moment and where it is: how you feel today, where your keys are, what the weather is doing. If ser answers "what is it?", estar answers "how is it right now?" and "where is it?".

In relaxed Brazilian speech the first syllable often drops: tô cansado, tá bom, cê tá onde? You will hear this constantly in Rio and São Paulo; write the full forms.

What estar is for

• Location of people and things: O livro está na mesa. O gato está no sofá.
• Temporary states: Estou cansado. A janela está aberta.
• Mood and health: Ela está triste hoje. O João está doente.
• Weather: Está frio hoje. Está calor em Salvador.
• Actions in progress: Estou estudando in Brazil, Estou a estudar in Portugal - "I'm studying".

Where English speakers slip

Using estar for lasting traits. "She is tall" is Ela é alta. Ela está alta does exist, but it means she has grown - something you say to a child you have not seen since last Christmas.

Forgetting the contraction after em. Location usually needs em "in, at, on", and em fuses with the article: em + o = no, em + a = na. So Estou no escritório, Ela está na praia, never *em o escritório.

Places on the map. For where a city or building is, Portuguese often prefers ficar: Onde fica o Cristo Redentor? - "Where is Christ the Redeemer?" Estar is fine for people and movable things.