Learn Italian: Lo zaino nero è vuoto? - Is the black backpack empty?

In Italian, masculine singular nouns usually take il, but words starting with a z (like zaino) require lo. You will also use lo before words starting with an s followed by a consonant (like studente), as well as ps, gn, and y.

Why is nero placed after zaino?

In English, we say black backpack, putting the describing word first. In Italian, most descriptive adjectives, including all colors like nero, go after the noun they describe (zaino).

Why doesn't the sentence start with è (is) to make it a question?

Unlike English, Italian doesn't require you to change the word order to ask a question. The statement for The black backpack is empty (Lo zaino nero è vuoto) becomes a question simply by adding a question mark in writing and raising your voice at the end when speaking.

Notice how lo, zaino, nero, and vuoto all end in the letter o. Is that a rule?