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Questions & Answers about O céu está azul hoje.
Why do we use the definite article o before céu?
Portuguese generally places a definite article before most nouns, even when talking about something in a general sense. In English you say “Sky is blue,” but in Portuguese you normally say o céu. Omitting the article would sound odd or overly poetic in everyday speech.
Why is the verb estar (está) used instead of ser (é)?
Ser is used for permanent or defining qualities, while estar covers temporary states or conditions. Since the sky’s blueness can change (clouds, sunset, etc.), you say o céu está azul. Saying o céu é azul would suggest that being blue is its permanent essence, which feels strange for weather descriptions.
Why does the adjective azul come after the noun céu, and not before?
In Portuguese the default order is noun + adjective. So you say céu azul. Placing the adjective before the noun (e.g. azul céu) is grammatically possible but is mainly used for emphasis or poetic effect.
Does azul change for gender and number?
Azul is invariable in gender: it stays azul for both masculine and feminine. It does change for number, though: the plural is azuis. For example, os céus estão azuis (“the skies are blue”).
What does the accent on céu indicate and how do I pronounce it?
The acute accent (´) on é marks that the vowel is stressed and pronounced as an open “eh.” Céu is pronounced roughly like one blended syllable [seh‑oo], similar to quickly saying “seh‑oo.”
Can I move hoje to the beginning of the sentence?
Yes. Portuguese word order is flexible with time adverbs. You can say Hoje o céu está azul without changing the meaning. Putting hoje first simply emphasizes the time: “Today, the sky is blue.”
Why don’t we use a continuous tense (“is being blue”) in Portuguese?
Portuguese forms a continuous aspect with estar a + infinitive (Portugal) or estar + gerund (Brazil), but that’s reserved for ongoing actions (e.g. está a chover, “it’s raining”). Describing a permanent or semi-permanent state—like a color—uses the simple present está, not a continuous form.
Could I intensify the description, for example “the sky is very blue today”?
Absolutely. You can insert an adverb like muito (“very”): O céu está muito azul hoje. Other options include bastante or bem: O céu está bem azul hoje (“the sky is really blue today”).