Esta palabra es irregular.

This word is irregular.

Breakdown of Esta palabra es irregular.

• ser: to be
• esta: this
• la palabra: the word
• irregular: irregular

Questions & Answers about Esta palabra es irregular.

Why is it esta and not este?

Because palabra is a feminine noun (it ends in -a), and Spanish demonstratives must agree in gender and number with the noun they modify. Esta is the feminine singular form of “this,” while este is masculine singular.

What part of speech is esta in this sentence?

Here esta is a demonstrative adjective. It directly modifies the noun palabra, specifying which word we’re talking about (“this word”). Demonstrative adjectives in Spanish are este/esta/estos/estas.

Why does the adjective irregular follow palabra instead of coming before it?

The neutral word order for descriptive adjectives in Spanish is noun + adjective. So you say palabra irregular. Placing an adjective before the noun can add emphasis or a poetic nuance, but the standard descriptive order is after the noun.

Why do we use es (from ser) and not está (from estar)?

Ser is used for inherent or defining characteristics, like someone’s nationality or a word’s grammatical property. Since being “irregular” is an inherent trait of the word, we use es. Estar would imply a temporary state or location, which doesn’t fit here.