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Learn Hardcore Italian: Questa razza è molto calma. - This breed is very calm.

Hardcore Italian
/Spending a day at an amusement park
/Questa razza è molto calma.

Questa razza è molto calma.

Word

Questa razza è molto calma.

Meaning

This breed is very calm.

Part of speech

sentence

Pronunciation

Course

Hardcore Italian

Lesson

Spending a day at an amusement park

Breakdown of Questa razza è molto calma.

Questions & Answers about Questa razza è molto calma.

Why is it questa and not questo?

Because razza is a feminine singular noun, and questo/questa must agree with it.

questo = this, masculine singular
questa = this, feminine singular

So:

questo cane = this dog
questa razza = this breed

Italian words like this often change form depending on the noun’s gender and number.

Why is it calma and not calmo?

Because calma is an adjective describing razza, and in Italian adjectives usually agree in gender and number with the noun they describe.

Since razza is feminine singular, the adjective is also feminine singular:

calmo = calm, masculine singular
calma = calm, feminine singular
calmi = calm, masculine plural
calme = calm, feminine plural

So:

Questo cane è molto calmo.
Questa razza è molto calma.

What does the accent in è do?

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The accent is very important. È with an accent means is.

è = is
e = and

So:

Questa razza è molto calma. = This breed is very calm.
questa razza e molto calma would be incorrect.

In writing, always keep the accent on è.

Why is molto used here, and why doesn’t it change?

Here molto means very, so it is being used as an adverb modifying the adjective calma.

When molto means very, it does not change:

molto calmo
molto calma
molto belli
molto interessante

But molto can also be an adjective meaning much/many, and then it does change:

molto tempo = much time
molta pazienza = much patience
molti cani = many dogs
molte razze = many breeds

In your sentence, it is an adverb, so molto stays the same.

Is razza always translated as breed?

Not always. Razza can mean different things depending on context.

Common meanings include:

breed for animals
race in some contexts

In a sentence like Questa razza è molto calma, the natural meaning is usually breed, especially if you are talking about dogs, cats, or other animals.

So context matters a lot.

Why is the word order è molto calma?

This is the normal Italian pattern:

subject + form of essere + adverb + adjective

So:

Questa razza = subject
è = is
molto = very
calma = calm

This is very similar to English: This breed is very calm.

Italian word order is often flexible, but this version is the most neutral and natural.

Can I say Questa è una razza molto calma instead?

Yes. That is also correct, but it means something slightly different in structure.

Questa razza è molto calma. = This breed is very calm.
Questa è una razza molto calma. = This is a very calm breed.

The first sentence directly talks about the breed.
The second introduces something as a calm breed.

Both are natural; they just focus a little differently.

How do I make the sentence plural?

You need to change the demonstrative, noun, verb, and adjective so they all agree.

Singular:

Questa razza è molto calma.

Queste razze sono molto calme.

Changes:

questa → queste
razza → razze
è → sono
calma → calme

Italian agreement is one of the key things to watch for.

How would the sentence change with a masculine noun?

The adjective and demonstrative would change to match the masculine noun.

For example, with cane:

Questo cane è molto calmo.

Changes:

questa → questo
calma → calmo

The verb è stays the same because the subject is still singular.

How is razza pronounced?

Razza is pronounced roughly like RAHT-tsa.

A few useful pronunciation points:

zz in Italian often sounds like ts or dz, depending on the word and accent
the double zz should be pronounced more strongly than a single consonant
the stress is on the first syllable: RÀZ-za

And calma is pronounced roughly KAHL-ma.

Do I need a subject pronoun like essa or lei here?

No. Italian usually does not need a separate subject pronoun when the subject is already stated.

Questa razza è molto calma. is complete and natural.

Adding a pronoun would usually be unnecessary. Italian normally avoids pronouns unless you want emphasis or contrast.

So the sentence is perfectly normal as it is.

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