How to Say "it is" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “it is” is “es” — use 'es' when 'it is' refers to a permanent characteristic, identity, or profession of a person or thing, often with an implied subject..
es
/ess//es/
Examples
Mi hermana es abogada.
My sister is a lawyer.
El cielo es azul.
The sky is blue.
Este chocolate es de México.
This chocolate is from Mexico.
The 'Permanent' Verb: Ser vs. Estar
'Es' comes from the verb 'ser', which you use for things that are more permanent or part of something's identity, like your job, nationality, or personality. Think of it as the 'DNA' verb.
When to use 'Es'
Use 'es' to describe what something IS (identity, characteristics), where it's FROM (origin), what it's MADE OF, who OWNS it, and for telling TIME and DATE.
Mixing up 'es' and 'está'
Mistake: “El café es frío.”
Correction: El café está frío. Use 'está' for temporary conditions like temperature. 'Es frío' would mean coffee is an inherently cold substance, which isn't true.
Forgetting 'de' for Origin
Mistake: “Él es España.”
Correction: Él es de España. When saying where someone is from, you need to add 'de' (from) after 'es'.
hace
/ah-say//ˈase/
Examples
Hoy hace mucho calor.
It's very hot today.
En invierno, hace frío y viento.
In winter, it's cold and windy.
¡Qué buen día hace!
What a nice day it is!
Always 'hace'
When talking about the weather, the verb 'hacer' is always used in this one form: 'hace'. It doesn't change for who is speaking.
Using 'Es' for Weather
Mistake: “English speakers often say 'Es caliente' for 'It's hot'.”
Correction: While you can say 'El día está caliente' (The day is hot), the most common and natural way to describe the general weather is with 'hace'. Say 'Hace calor'.
hacen
/AH-sen//ˈa.sen/
Examples
En Sevilla en agosto, hacen cuarenta grados.
In Seville in August, it's forty degrees.
Dicen que mañana hacen temperaturas más bajas.
They say that tomorrow it will be lower temperatures.
Weather Talk: 'hace' vs. 'hacen'
Most Spanish speakers use 'hace' for weather ('hace calor', 'hace 30 grados'). But in some places, like Spain, people say 'hacen 30 grados', matching the verb to the plural 'grados' (degrees). Both are understood!
Using 'ser' or 'estar' for Temperature
Mistake: “Son 30 grados.”
Correction: Hacen 30 grados. (or Hace 30 grados). For weather and temperature, Spanish uses the special verb 'hacer'.
resulta
/reh-SOOL-tah//reˈsul.ta/
Examples
Resulta que no teníamos dinero para el taxi.
It turns out that we didn't have money for the taxi.
Si mezclas azul y amarillo, resulta el color verde.
If you mix blue and yellow, the color green results (or comes out).
La decisión resulta ser muy complicada para la empresa.
The decision proves to be (or is) very complicated for the company.
Introducing a Fact
The phrase 'resulta que...' is a very natural way to introduce information, often news or something unexpected, like saying 'As a matter of fact...' or 'I just found out that...'
Resultar vs. Ser
Resultar is often a dynamic version of 'ser' (to be). It means 'to turn out to be' or 'to prove to be,' implying a conclusion drawn from a process.
Trying to Conjugate 'Resulta que'
Mistake: “Using 'Yo resulto que...' (I turn out that...)”
Correction: 'Resulta que...' is almost always used impersonally in the third person singular, like how English uses 'It turns out that...'. You don't need a 'yo' or 'tú' subject.
Examples
¿Quieres un café? —Sí, por favor.
Do you want a coffee? —Yes, please.
Weather vs. General Description
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