Learn Arabic (Modern Standard): المكان جميل، غير أنه صغير جدا. - The place is beautiful; however, it is very small.

The word غير usually means 'other than' or 'except'. When you combine it with أن (that) and a pronoun suffix, the phrase غير أن functions as a conjunction meaning 'except that' or 'however'. It is a common way to introduce a contrasting idea in Arabic.

Why is the pronoun suffix ـه attached to أن here?

Particles like أن must be directly followed by a noun or an attached pronoun suffix. You cannot put an independent pronoun after them. Here, the suffix ـه (it) refers back to the masculine noun المكان (the place), acting as the subject for the second half of the sentence.

Why does the word جدا end with an extra alif?

The word جدا functions as an adverb here, modifying صغير (small). In Arabic, adverbs are typically marked with the accusative case, which takes a double fatha sound (tanwin fatha). For most words that do not end in a taa marbuta, this double fatha requires adding a silent alif at the end of the word.

Why are there no Arabic verbs in this sentence even though the English translation uses 'is' twice?