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Questions & Answers about Isso é bom.
What does isso mean and how is it different from isto and aquilo?
isso is a demonstrative pronoun used to refer to something near the listener or already mentioned; it corresponds to that in English. Portuguese has three basic neutral pronouns:
- isto = this (near the speaker)
- isso = that (near the listener or just mentioned)
- aquilo = that (far from both speaker and listener)
Why is the verb é used here instead of está?
Portuguese uses two copulas: ser and estar.
- é (from ser) expresses an inherent or defining quality.
- está (from estar) indicates a temporary state or condition.
In isso é bom you’re saying “that is good” as a general or permanent quality. If you meant “that is good right now,” you’d say isso está bom.
Why is the adjective bom in its masculine form instead of boa?
Adjectives in Portuguese agree in gender and number with the noun or pronoun they modify. Although isso is technically neuter, demonstrative pronouns default to the masculine, so the adjective also takes the masculine form bom. If you referred to a feminine noun, you’d say essa ideia é boa.
Can I drop the verb and say isso bom? If not, how else can I express “that’s good” more colloquially?
No. Portuguese generally requires a copula (ser or estar) between a pronoun and an adjective, so isso bom is ungrammatical. Colloquial alternatives include:
- Que bom! (literally “what good!” – like “great!”)
- Legal! (“cool!”)
- Isso é massa! (“that’s awesome!” in Brazilian slang)
How do you pronounce isso é bom, and where is the stress?
Pronunciation in Brazilian Portuguese: [ˈi.su i ˈbõw]
- IS-soh (stress on the first syllable of isso)
- é as a short [i] sound
- bom with a nasalized vowel [õw] and primary stress on that syllable
When and in what contexts can I use isso é bom in Brazilian Portuguese?
Use it to express approval or satisfaction with an idea, suggestion or situation, much like “that’s good” or “sounds good” in English. For example:
- A friend proposes a plan: “Vamos ao parque?” – “Isso é bom!”
- You taste a dish you like: “Isso é bom!”
How can I make this sentence more emphatic, like “that’s really good” or “that’s awesome”?
You can add modifiers or choose stronger adjectives, for example:
- Isso é muito bom (that’s very good)
- Isso é ótimo (that’s great)
- Isso é incrível (that’s incredible)
- Caramba, isso é bom demais! (man, that’s so good!)