O café está delicioso.

to be

Breakdown of O café está delicioso.

• o café: the coffee
• delicioso: delicious

Questions & Answers about O café está delicioso.

Why is está used here instead of é?

In Portuguese, estar often refers to a temporary state or condition. By saying O café está delicioso, you’re emphasizing that the coffee tastes delicious right now. If you use é, it would imply that the coffee is inherently or generally delicious as a permanent characteristic.

Why do we say O café instead of just café?

In Portuguese, nouns are usually accompanied by an article (definite or indefinite). Using O makes it specific: you’re referring to a particular cup or type of coffee, rather than coffee in general.

How do I pronounce delicioso correctly in Brazilian Portuguese?

You can break it down as “de-li-ci-o-so.” Pronounce the “de” as “deh,” the “li” like “lee,” the “ci” as “see,” and the “o-so” as “oh-so.” It flows together smoothly: “deh-lee-see-oh-so.”

Does delicioso change form if I’m praising something else that is feminine?

Yes. In Portuguese, adjectives must agree in gender and number with the noun they describe. For a feminine noun (e.g., “a pizza”), you would say deliciosa (“A pizza está deliciosa.”). For something plural, it would be deliciosos or deliciosas, depending on gender.