Este bolo é delicioso.

This cake is delicious.

Breakdown of Este bolo é delicioso.

• ser: to be
• este: this
• delicioso: delicious
• bolo: cake

Questions & Answers about Este bolo é delicioso.

What does each word in Este bolo é delicioso correspond to in English?

Word by word:

• Este = this (demonstrative, referring to something near the speaker)
• bolo = cake
• é = is (3rd person singular of ser)
• delicioso = delicious

So the sentence maps directly to This cake is delicious.

Why is it é and not está here?

Portuguese has two verbs for to be: ser and estar.

• ser (é) is used for more inherent or characteristic qualities, things seen as part of what something is.
• estar (está) is used for temporary states or conditions.

In Este bolo é delicioso, the speaker is describing the cake as having the general quality of being delicious (as a characteristic of this cake).

You could say:

• Este bolo está delicioso.

This usually emphasizes that right now, as you taste it, it is delicious (a current state), even if it might not always be so. Both are possible; é sounds a bit more general or evaluative, está more “at this moment.”

Why is it delicioso and not deliciosa?