La puzza è forte.

The stink is strong.

Breakdown of La puzza è forte.

• essere: to be
• forte: strong
• la puzza: the stink; bad smell

Questions & Answers about La puzza è forte.

Why is it la puzza and not just puzza?

Puzza is a feminine singular noun, so it normally takes the feminine singular definite article la when you mean the stink / the smell.

So:

• la puzza = the stink / the bad smell
• una puzza = a stink / a bad smell

In a normal full sentence like this, leaving out the article would usually sound unnatural.

Does puzza mean any smell, or specifically a bad smell?

Puzza usually means a bad smell. It has a negative sense, like stink, stench, or bad odor.

If you want a more neutral word for smell, Italian often uses odore:

• L’odore è forte. = The smell is strong.
• La puzza è forte. = The stink is strong.

So puzza is stronger and more unpleasant than odore.

Why is it è with an accent?

È is the he/she/it is form of essere (to be).

The accent matters because:

• è = is
• e = and

So:

• La puzza è forte. = The stink is strong.
• La puzza e forte would be incorrect.