Перець гострий.

Breakdown of Перець гострий.

перець
the pepper
гострий
spicy

Questions & Answers about Перець гострий.

Why is there no is (the verb “to be”) in Перець гострий?
In Ukrainian the present‐tense copula (the equivalent of “is/are”) is normally omitted. So instead of saying Перець є гострий, you simply say Перець гострий to mean “The pepper is hot/spicy.”
What case, gender and number are перець and гострий in?
Both words are in the nominative singular. Перець is a masculine noun in the nominative singular, and гострий is the corresponding masculine singular nominative form of the adjective.
Why does the adjective гострий come after the noun? Could it go before?

Word order in Ukrainian is relatively flexible.
Перець гострий is the neutral “noun + adjective” order, like stating a fact.
Гострий перець (“spicy pepper”) puts a tiny extra emphasis on спicy, as if distinguishing it from other peppers.

Why does гострий end with -ий, and how would it change for feminine, neuter or plural?

In masculine singular nominative adjectives typically end in -ий. For other genders and numbers the ending changes to agree with the noun:
• Feminine: гостра (e.g. гостра паприка)
• Neuter: гостре (e.g. гостре блюдо)
• Plural: гострі (e.g. гострі перці)

How do you pronounce Перець гострий, especially that t–r cluster in гострий?

Rough phonetic transcription: [ˈpɛrʲetsʲ ˈɦɔsdʲrɪj].
Note that in гострий the t becomes voiced before r, so you hear something like госдр-ий rather than госн-ий.

Why is there a soft sign (ь) in перець?
The soft sign indicates that the preceding consonant (ц) is palatalized (“soft”). Перець is an “-ець” masculine noun with a soft ending, so it always carries ь.
What’s the difference between гострий and гарячий?

гострий = “spicy,” “sharp,” “piquant” (taste or sensation).
гарячий = “hot” in temperature.
If you want to say “hot pepper” as in “temperature,” use гарячий перець, but for “spicy pepper” always use гострий перець.

How would you ask “Is this pepper spicy?” in Ukrainian?

You’d say:
Цей перець гострий?
Again, the present‐tense “is” is omitted.

How do you say “This pepper is not spicy”?

Use не before the adjective:
Цей перець не гострий.

Can перець refer to both a bell pepper and a chili pepper?

Yes. Перець on its own can mean either. If you need to distinguish, you add an adjective:
солодкий перець = bell pepper (“sweet pepper”)
гострий перець = chili pepper (“spicy pepper”)

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