Learn Italian: Le matite rosse sono piccole.

Le matite rosse sono piccole.

The red pencils are small.

Breakdown of Le matite rosse sono piccole.

Questions & Answers about Le matite rosse sono piccole.

Why do we use le here instead of i for "the"?

Le is the plural word for "the" used with feminine nouns. Because the singular word for pencil (la matita) is feminine, we must use le for the plural. If we were talking about a masculine plural noun, we would use i instead.

How does the word matita (pencil) change to become plural?

In Italian, regular feminine nouns that end in -a change their ending to an -e to become plural. So, singular matita becomes plural matite.

Why do the words for "red" and "small" end in -e (rosse, piccole)?

Adjectives always have to match the noun they describe. Because matite is feminine and plural, the base adjectives rosso (red) and piccolo (small) also change their endings to -e to match the feminine plural form.

Why does the color come after the word for pencil (matite rosse)?

Unlike English, Italian usually places descriptive adjectives—especially colors—directly after the noun they describe. You are literally saying "The pencils red are small."

Wait, doesn't mean "I am"?