What’s It Is in Spanish | Clear Meanings And Best Uses

Spanish often swaps one English “it is” into “es”, “está”, or “hay” based on meaning, so the right choice depends on what you’re pointing at.

You typed “it is” and Spanish hit you with options. That’s normal. English leans on one tiny phrase to do a lot of jobs: naming things, describing traits, pointing to a location, talking about time, even giving an opinion. Spanish splits those jobs across different verbs and patterns. Once you see the patterns, the choice stops feeling like a coin toss.

This article gives you a clean set of cues you can use mid-sentence. You’ll learn when “es” fits, when “está” fits, when Spanish skips the verb, and when “hay” is the move. You’ll also get ready-to-say lines you can borrow in daily speech and writing.

What “it is” is doing in your sentence

Before picking Spanish words, spot what “it is” means in English. Ask a fast question:

• Identity: Are you naming what something is? (“It is a problem.”)
• Trait: Are you describing a characteristic? (“It is funny.”)
• State: Are you describing a condition right now? (“It is open.”)
• Location: Are you saying where it is? (“It is in the bag.”)
• Existence: Are you saying something exists? (“There is a café.”)
• Time/Date: Are you telling the time or day? (“It is three.”)
• Weather: Are you talking about conditions outside? (“It is cold.”)

Spanish has a default for each job. You’ll still see overlap, yet these cues get you correct most of the time.

Ser: when “it is” names or classifies

Use ser when you’re stating what something is, what it’s made of, what category it belongs to, or what it’s like as a general trait. In the present tense, the “it is” form is es.

These uses line up with how the RAE entry for “ser” treats it as the core copular verb for linking a subject to a description.

Common “es” patterns you’ll use a lot

• Es + noun:Es una idea. (It’s an idea.)
• Es + adjective (general trait):Es útil. (It’s useful.)
• Es de + material:Es de madera. (It’s made of wood.)

Notice what’s missing: a lot of the time, Spanish doesn’t need a subject pronoun. You can say Es una idea without “it.” The verb already carries the meaning.

When “it is” means “that’s” or “this is”

Pointing at something? Spanish often uses es with demonstratives:

• Eso es. (That’s it / That’s right.)
• Esto es raro. (This is odd.)

In casual talk, you’ll also hear Es que… to introduce an explanation: Es que no puedo. (It’s that I can’t / I just can’t.) It’s a set phrase, not a literal “it is.”

Estar: when “it is” describes a state or place

Estar is your pick for conditions and location. In the present tense, “it is” becomes está.

The RAE’s Diccionario panhispánico de dudas entry on “estar” explains the core idea: it links the subject to a state tied to a situation, often seen as changeable or time-bound.

State: what it’s like right now

• Está abierto. (It’s open.)
• Está listo. (It’s ready.)
• Está roto. (It’s broken.)

A simple check: if you can add “right now” in English and the meaning stays the same, estar is a strong bet.

Location: where it is

• Está aquí. (It’s here.)
• Está en la mesa. (It’s on the table.)
• Está cerca. (It’s nearby.)

Don’t mix this with existence. Está en la mesa points to a known thing. If you mean “there’s a book on the table” as new information, Spanish often uses hay, which you’ll see soon.

Es vs está with adjectives: the meaning shift you can hear

Some adjectives work with both verbs, but the message changes. This is where learners get stuck, so let’s keep it practical.

The RAE’s Nueva gramática básica section on attributes with ser and estar frames a useful split: ser tends to present properties, while estar links to a specific situation.

Pairs that show the idea fast

• Es aburrido. (It’s boring as a thing.) / Está aburrido. (It’s bored, or it’s dull right now.)
• Es listo. (It’s clever.) / Está listo. (It’s ready.)
• Es verde. (It’s green by nature.) / Está verde. (It’s unripe.)

When you meet an adjective pair like this, learn it as a chunk. Your brain will stop translating word by word and start grabbing the right meaning.

What’s It Is in Spanish For Real Conversations

Let’s convert the most common English uses into Spanish you can say with confidence. Read these aloud. Spanish rewards muscle memory.

When you mean “It’s X” (identity)

• It’s a problem. → Es un problema.
• It’s the same. → Es lo mismo.

When you mean “It’s here/there” (location)

• It’s on the shelf. → Está en la estantería.

When you mean “It’s done/ready” (state)

• It’s done. → Está hecho.
• It’s ready. → Está listo.

When you mean “It’s true / It’s normal” (set phrases)

• It’s true. → Es verdad.
• It’s normal. → Es normal.
• It’s a shame. → Es una pena.

These chunks show how Spanish treats “it” as optional. The verb and the phrase carry the load.

Table 1: Fast picks for “it is” across common situations

English intent	Spanish pick	Ready-to-use pattern
Identity / definition	es (ser)	Es + noun → Es una oferta.
General trait	es (ser)	Es + adjective → Es caro.
State right now	está (estar)	Está + adjective → Está ocupado.
Location of a known thing	está (estar)	Está en + place → Está en la caja.
Existence (new info)	hay	Hay + noun → Hay un error.
Time / date	es	Es la una / Son las dos
Weather (general)	hace / está	Hace frío / Está nublado
Opinion about a clause	es + noun/adjective	Es bueno que… / Es raro que…

Hay: when English says “it is” but Spanish says “there is”

English sometimes uses “it is” to announce something, yet Spanish often uses hay (from haber) to introduce new things. This is one of the biggest upgrades you can make to sound natural.

Spot the “new info” moment

• It’s a mistake on the form. → Hay un error en el formulario.
• It’s a café near here. → Hay un café cerca de aquí.
• It’s no time. → No hay tiempo.

Use está when the thing is already known and you’re pointing to its place: El café está cerca. That feels like “the café is nearby,” not “there’s a café nearby.”

Time, dates, and schedules: when “it is” becomes “es” or “son”

For clock time, Spanish uses ser. One o’clock is singular, so you’ll hear Es la una. After that it’s plural: Son las dos, Son las cinco. You’ll also see Es tarde (It’s late) and Es lunes (It’s Monday).

Try these as quick drills:

• It’s 1:15. → Es la una y cuarto.
• It’s 3:30. → Son las tres y media.
• It’s Friday. → Es viernes.

Weather lines: “it is” isn’t always a verb choice

Weather in Spanish uses a mix of patterns. Don’t force “it is” into every sentence. Pick the common Spanish frame:

• Hace + weather:Hace calor. (It’s hot.) Hace frío. (It’s cold.)
• Está + condition:Está nublado. (It’s cloudy.) Está despejado. (It’s clear.)
• Hay + phenomenon:Hay niebla. (It’s foggy.) Hay viento. (It’s windy.)

Quick fixes for common slip-ups

Mixing identity with location

If you mean “Where is it?”, use estar: ¿Dónde está? If you mean “What is it?”, use ser: ¿Qué es? That pair shows the split in one glance.

Using “es” with feelings

Feelings are states, so they go with estar: Está feliz, Está triste, Está nervioso. If you say Es nervioso, you’re calling it a personality trait.

Forgetting agreement

Adjectives match gender and number. If the thing is feminine: Está lista, Es bonita. If it’s plural: Son baratos, Están abiertos.

Table 2: Mini practice set that forces the right choice

English line	Best Spanish	Why it fits
It’s a photo.	Es una foto.	Identity: noun after the verb.
It’s on the desk.	Está en el escritorio.	Location of a known item.
It’s ready.	Está listo.	State right now.
It’s expensive.	Es caro.	General trait you’re attributing.
It’s late.	Es tarde.	Time expression uses ser.
It’s a café nearby.	Hay un café cerca.	Existence: you’re introducing it.

A simple routine to lock it in

You don’t need hours of drills. You need a repeatable habit that trains your ear.

1. Pick ten lines you say often in English. Write them down.
2. Label the intent. Identity, trait, state, location, existence, time, or weather.
3. Write the Spanish using the patterns above. Keep them short.
4. Read them out loud twice a day. Morning and evening works well.

If you want a clean explanation of why learners mix these verbs, FundéuRAE has a readable piece on the difficulty of telling ser and estar apart. It’s useful when you feel stuck, since it names the problem without drowning you in theory.

Quick reference card you can save

• Es = identity, category, general trait, time expressions.
• Está = state right now, location.
• Hay = existence, “there is/are,” weather phenomena.
• Hace = temperature and general weather feel.

When you pause mid-sentence, don’t hunt for a rule. Ask what you mean. Then pick the Spanish frame that matches that meaning. After a week of using these cues, your choices start to feel automatic.