Este computador é muito lento.

to be

Breakdown of Este computador é muito lento.

• este: this
• lento: slow
• muito: very
• o computador: the computer

Questions & Answers about Este computador é muito lento.

Why do we use este and not esse in this sentence?

In Brazilian Portuguese, este typically refers to something close to the speaker, while esse can describe something closer to the listener or slightly further away. In this context, este emphasizes that the computer is right here with the speaker.

Why is there an accent on the é in é muito?

The accent on é indicates that it is the third-person singular present tense of the verb ser (to be). Without the accent, e would mean and. So, é = is, while e = and.

Why do we use muito here, and not muita or muitos?

As an adverb meaning very, muito does not change form for gender or number. If it were used as an adjective (meaning a lot of), it would change (e.g., muita água, muitos livros). Here it’s acting as an adverb modifying the adjective lento.

Is there a difference between computador used in Brazil and other Portuguese-speaking places?

In Brazil, computador is the standard word for computer. In Portugal, the same word is also used, though some might occasionally say ordenador, which is more common in Spanish but can also appear in European Portuguese contexts. But computador is widely understood in all Portuguese-speaking regions.

Are there any synonyms for lento in Portuguese that convey the same idea?

Yes. Some common synonyms include devagar (though devagar is often used as an adverb), vagaroso, or demorado (when something takes a long time). However, lento is the most direct adjective to describe something slow.