Ela é Maria.

to be

Breakdown of Ela é Maria.

• ela: she
• Maria: Maria

Questions & Answers about Ela é Maria.

Why is it Ela é Maria instead of Ela está Maria?

In Portuguese, ser (é) is used to express a permanent or intrinsic identity (e.g., someone’s name), while estar typically refers to a temporary situation or state. Since we’re identifying who she is (Maria), we use é instead of está.

Why isn’t there an article like a before Maria?

In European Portuguese, when stating someone’s name after the verb ser, it’s common to omit the article. Saying Ela é Maria sounds natural in Portuguese. Adding the article (Ela é a Maria) is also possible, but usually implies referring to a specific Maria you’ve mentioned previously, so context matters.

What is the pronunciation of é in Portuguese?

The vowel é is pronounced with an open “eh” sound, similar to the “e” in English bet. Ensure you keep it short and clear.

Could I say Ela chama-se Maria with the same meaning?

Yes. Ela chama-se Maria means Her name is Maria and conveys the same information. However, Ela é Maria is more direct as an identity statement, while Ela chama-se Maria focuses on her name.

Are there any gender changes if the subject is male?

Yes, you change Ela (she) to Ele (he) if referring to a male. However, Maria is a female name, so typically you would say Ele é João or Ele é Pedro, for example, if you were talking about a male name. The verb é (from ser) stays the same regardless of the subject’s gender.