A canalização da cozinha é antiga, e um cano por baixo do balcão pinga devagar.

Because da is the contraction of de + a.

• de = of / from
• a = the

So:

• a canalização da cozinha = the kitchen plumbing / literally the plumbing of the kitchen

This kind of contraction is extremely common in Portuguese:

• de + o = do
• de + a = da
• em + o = no
• em + a = na

So do balcão later in the sentence works the same way: de + o.

They are related, but they are not the same.

• canalização = the plumbing / pipe system / piping
• cano = a pipe

So in the sentence:

• A canalização da cozinha é antiga = the kitchen plumbing is old
• um cano ... pinga devagar = one pipe ... drips slowly

Think of canalização as the whole system, and cano as one physical pipe.

Because antiga agrees with canalização, which is a feminine singular noun.

• a canalização → feminine singular
• adjective must match → antiga

Compare:

• o cano é antigo = the pipe is old
• a canalização é antiga = the plumbing is old

This is basic adjective agreement in Portuguese.

Here é is used because the sentence is describing a general, lasting characteristic: the plumbing is old.

• é antiga = it is old, as a permanent or inherent quality
• está antiga would sound much less natural here

In Portuguese, ser is generally used for more permanent characteristics, while estar is used for states or conditions.

So:

• A canalização é antiga. = The plumbing is old.
• A cozinha está suja. = The kitchen is dirty.

It means underneath the counter or below the counter.

Breakdown:

• por baixo de = underneath / below
• do = de + o
• balcão = counter

So:

• por baixo do balcão = underneath the counter

A close alternative is debaixo do balcão, which is also very common.

Yes — in European Portuguese, balcão often means counter, such as a kitchen counter, bar counter, or shop counter.

It is not the normal word for balcony.

For balcony, Portuguese usually uses:

• varanda
• sometimes sacada, depending on region and context

So in this sentence, balcão definitely means counter/worktop area, not a balcony.

Because um cano introduces a pipe that has not been specifically identified before.

• um cano = a pipe
• o cano = the pipe

So the sentence presents the situation like this:

1. First, it talks about the kitchen plumbing in general.
2. Then it mentions one pipe under the counter.

Using um sounds natural because the pipe is being introduced for the first time.

Pinga is the 3rd person singular of the verb pingar, which means:

• to drip
• to leak in drops
• to trickle drop by drop

So:

• um cano pinga = a pipe drips / a pipe is dripping

Related forms:

• eu pingo = I drip
• ele/ela pinga = he/she/it drips
• os canos pingam = the pipes drip

In this sentence, pinga suggests a slow leak rather than water flowing strongly.

Both are possible, but devagar is more common and more natural in everyday speech.

• devagar = slowly
• lentamente = slowly, but a bit more formal or literary in many contexts

So:

• pinga devagar sounds very natural
• pinga lentamente is understandable, but less conversational

Portuguese often prefers simple adverbs like devagar in normal speech.

Yes. In European Portuguese, está a pingar is very common for an action happening right now.

So these are both possible:

• um cano pinga devagar = a pipe drips slowly / is dripping slowly
• um cano está a pingar devagar = a pipe is dripping slowly

The version in your sentence, with the simple present pinga, can describe a current situation quite naturally, especially in descriptive statements.

In European Portuguese, the estar a + infinitive structure is the normal equivalent of English be + -ing:

• está a chover = it is raining
• está a pingar = it is dripping

The comma separates two full clauses:

• A canalização da cozinha é antiga
• um cano por baixo do balcão pinga devagar

Each part has its own verb:

• é
• pinga

So the comma helps divide two related statements. In Portuguese, a comma before e is possible when the sentence links two longer clauses, especially if it helps clarity.

It is not always required before e, but here it is perfectly natural.

A rough guide:

• canalização ≈ cah-nah-lee-zah-SOWN
• balcão ≈ bal-KOWN
• pinga ≈ PEEN-gah

A few pronunciation points:

• -ção is a very common ending, pronounced roughly like sown with a nasal sound.
• ão is nasal too, and English speakers usually need practice with it.
• In European Portuguese, unstressed vowels are often reduced more than in Brazilian Portuguese.

So canalização may sound more compressed than you expect when spoken by a Portuguese speaker from Portugal.

This order is natural, but Portuguese does allow some flexibility.

The sentence as written is:

• um cano = subject
• por baixo do balcão = location
• pinga = verb
• devagar = adverb

You could also hear:

• Um cano pinga devagar por baixo do balcão.

That is also grammatical, but it can slightly shift the focus. The original version places the location right after um cano, which helps identify which pipe is meant: the one under the counter.

So the original word order is very natural and informative.

Yes. Antigo/antiga can mean:

• old
• former
• ancient

The exact meaning depends on context.

Examples:

• uma casa antiga = an old house
• o meu antigo professor = my former teacher
• uma civilização antiga = an ancient civilization

In your sentence, A canalização da cozinha é antiga, it clearly means old, not former or ancient.

Yes, depending on context.

In European Portuguese, common related words include:

• canalização = plumbing / pipework
• tubagem = piping / pipe system
• os canos = the pipes

But canalização is a very natural choice when talking about a building’s plumbing as a system.

So:

• A canalização da cozinha é antiga sounds completely normal in Portugal.

If you said:

• Os canos da cozinha são antigos

that would mean The kitchen pipes are old, focusing more directly on the pipes themselves rather than the plumbing system as a whole.