Підказка коротка.

The clue is short.

Breakdown of Підказка коротка.

• короткий: brief
• підказка: the clue; hint

Questions & Answers about Підказка коротка.

Why is there no word for is in Підказка коротка?

In Ukrainian, the verb to be is usually omitted in the present tense.

So:

• Підказка коротка. = The hint is short.

You do not normally say Підказка є коротка in standard everyday Ukrainian for a simple sentence like this.

Compare:

• Він студент. = He is a student.
• Кава гаряча. = The coffee is hot.
• Підказка коротка. = The hint is short.

Why is it коротка, not короткий?

Because коротка agrees with підказка, and підказка is a feminine singular noun.

The adjective короткий changes form to match the noun’s:

• gender
• number
• case

Here are the nominative singular forms:

• masculine: короткий
• feminine: коротка
• neuter: коротке

Since підказка is feminine, the correct form is коротка.

How do I know that підказка is feminine?