Esse pássaro é bonito.

This bird is beautiful.

Breakdown of Esse pássaro é bonito.

• ser: to be
• bonito: beautiful
• esse: this
• o pássaro: the bird

Questions & Answers about Esse pássaro é bonito.

Why do we use esse instead of este or isso in this sentence?

In Brazilian Portuguese, esse typically refers to something near the person you're speaking to (or previously mentioned in conversation), whereas este is generally used for something close to the speaker. Isso is more of a neutral or impersonal pronoun ("that" thing or idea). In this sentence, esse helps highlight a specific bird that the speaker and listener both can identify, but it isn’t necessarily right next to the speaker.

Why is there an accent in pássaro?

Portuguese accent marks show which syllable to stress and can change the sound of the vowel. In pássaro, the á indicates that the strong stress falls on the first syllable (PAS-sa-ro). Without the accent (passaro), the stress would fall correctly by default rules on the second syllable, leading to a mispronunciation.

What's the difference between pássaro and ave in Portuguese?

Both words mean "bird," but pássaro is often used in everyday conversation to talk about birds in general or smaller birds. Ave is a more formal or scientific term that can refer to birds as a broader category (including large or exotic species).

Why do we say é instead of está here?

In Portuguese, é (from the verb ser) is used to describe permanent or more inherent qualities, like identity or a characteristic of something. Está (from estar) is usually for temporary states or conditions. Here, describing the bird as beautiful is a more intrinsic quality, so é bonito is the natural choice.

Could I say Esse pássaro é lindo instead of bonito?

Yes. The words bonito and lindo both convey something "beautiful" or "pretty," but lindo carries a stronger sense of admiration or loveliness. Using lindo is perfectly acceptable and would just put a bit more emphasis on how striking the bird is.