این کتاب کوچک است.

This book is small.

Breakdown of این کتاب کوچک است.

• این: this
• بودن: to be
• کوچک: small
• کتاب: book

Questions & Answers about این کتاب کوچک است.

Why does it start with این? What does این mean here?

این means this. In این کتاب کوچک است. it works like a demonstrative determiner: this book.
So این کتاب = this book.

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Why is there no word for is between کتاب and کوچک?

In Persian, the linking verb to be often comes at the end of the sentence. Here it’s است (is).
So the structure is: [subject] + [adjective] + است → This book + small + is.

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What is است exactly, and is it formal?

است is the 3rd person singular form of بودن (to be) in the present: he/she/it is.
It’s more formal/written. In everyday speech, people commonly say:

• این کتاب کوچکِه. (colloquial)
  or sometimes drop it in casual contexts if the meaning is clear, though that’s more situational.

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Why is the adjective کوچک after the noun? Does Persian always do that?

Yes, adjectives in Persian typically follow the noun they describe.
So you say کتاب کوچک (small book), not small book in the English order.

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Shouldn’t there be something like a or the (articles) in Persian?

Persian doesn’t have the or a/an in the same way English does.

• کتاب can mean book / a book / the book, depending on context.
  Here این already makes it definite: this book.

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Where is the ezâfe (ـِ) linking sound? Should it be کتابِ کوچک?

Both are possible, but they’re used a bit differently.

• کتاب کوچک is a straightforward noun + adjective phrase and is very common.
• کتابِ کوچک (with ezâfe) is also correct and can sound a bit more explicitly linked or more literary/precise depending on style and context.
  In normal speech you’ll hear both; many learners first meet ezâfe as a general linker, but adjective phrases can sometimes appear without it.

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Does کوچک change for gender or plural like in some languages?

No. Persian adjectives do not change for gender, and they don’t change form for number either.

• این کتاب کوچک است. = This book is small.
• این کتاب‌ها کوچک هستند. = These books are small.
  The adjective کوچک stays the same; the verb changes.

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How would I make it plural: “These books are small”?

A common version is:

• این کتاب‌ها کوچک هستند.
  (این = these/this depending on context; کتاب‌ها = books; هستند = are)
  In speech: این کتاب‌ها کوچیکَن/کوچیکن. (colloquial)

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Is کوچک the same as کوچیک? Which one should I use?

کوچک is the standard/formal form; کوچیک is the common colloquial pronunciation/spelling.

• Formal/written: این کتاب کوچک است.
• Spoken/casual: این کتاب کوچیکه.

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Can I change the word order, like putting کوچک first?

Normally you keep it as noun + adjective: کتاب کوچک.
You can front the adjective for emphasis or in more literary styles, but it will sound marked/unusual for everyday speech. The neutral, natural order is the one in the sentence.

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How do you pronounce this sentence (roughly)?

A careful/formal reading:

• in ketâb kuchak ast
  Common colloquial pronunciation:
• in ketâb kuchike (with کوچیکه)