Learn Italian: Marco è permaloso, ma tu non lo sei. - Marco is touchy, but you are not.

Marco è permaloso, ma tu non lo sei.

Marco is touchy, but you are not.

Breakdown of Marco è permaloso, ma tu non lo sei.

Questions & Answers about Marco è permaloso, ma tu non lo sei.

Why is there a 'lo' in 'non lo sei'?

In Italian, you generally cannot leave the verb essere (to be) hanging at the end of a clause like we do in English with 'you are not.' You must replace the omitted adjective (permaloso) with the pronoun lo. It essentially translates to 'you are not it.'

Can I just drop the 'lo' and say 'ma tu non sei' like we do in English?

No, that sounds grammatically incomplete to an Italian ear. While English comfortably allows 'but you are not,' Italian requires this pro-predicative lo to act as a mandatory placeholder for the missing adjective.

If we were talking about a woman, would 'lo' change to 'la' to match 'permalosa'?

No, it stays exactly as lo! When this specific pronoun replaces an adjective (or an entire concept), it is entirely invariable. So, 'Marta è permalosa, ma tu non lo sei' remains the same, regardless of the gender or number of the subject.

Where does the word 'permaloso' come from?

It describes someone who is easily offended, thin-skinned, or quick to take things personally. It originates from the idea of taking things per male (badly, or in the wrong way).