What is the difference between “es” and “está” in Spanish?

Spanish has two verbs for “to be”, and choosing wrong sounds odd. Ser (forms like es, son) is for lasting facts: who or what someone is, and their qualities. Estar (forms like está, están) is for location and for states that can change, like a mood. So Juan es profesor says his job, but La madre está triste says how she feels right now, not forever.

The clip spells it out: España está en Europa (location, so estar) but Carmen es secretaria (job, so ser). Same idea with Laura está en casa versus Iván es bajo (he is short). Place and passing feelings take estar; who-you-are takes ser.