La silla es pequeña.

The chair is small.

Breakdown of La silla es pequeña.

• ser: to be
• la silla: the chair
• pequeño: small

Questions & Answers about La silla es pequeña.

Why is silla feminine instead of masculine in this sentence?

In Spanish, nouns are assigned grammatical genders that don’t always have a logical reason. The word silla is simply categorized as feminine, so it uses the feminine article la and any adjective modifying it (like pequeña) must also be in the feminine form.

Why do we use es instead of está?

Es (from the verb ser) is typically used to describe inherent or permanent characteristics (like size in this case). Está (from estar) often indicates a temporary state or location. Since we’re describing a defining trait (the chair is small by nature), we use es.

Why is the adjective pequeña used instead of pequeño?

Because silla is feminine, the form of the adjective must also be feminine. Adjectives in Spanish agree with the gender of the noun: pequeño for masculine nouns, pequeña for feminine nouns.

Can I place pequeña before silla?

Generally, descriptive adjectives follow the noun in Spanish (silla pequeña). While some adjectives can precede the noun for stylistic or nuanced meaning, it’s most common to put size descriptors after the noun: la silla es pequeña.

How do I pronounce pequeña?

Break it into syllables: pe-que-ña. The pe sounds like “peh,” que like “keh,” and ña like “nyah.” Focus on producing that “ñ” sound by lightly pressing your tongue against the roof of your mouth.