Learn Portuguese (Portugal): A Madeira é uma ilha portuguesa.

In Portuguese, most countries, regions, and prominent islands take a definite article, though there are exceptions like Portugal or Cabo Verde. Madeira requires the feminine article a, which is why you will also see contractions like na Madeira (in Madeira) or à Madeira (to Madeira).

Why isn't the nationality capitalized as Portuguesa?

Unlike in English, Portuguese does not capitalize nationalities, languages, or months. Because portuguesa is an adjective describing the island, it must be written in lowercase.

Does the island's name have anything to do with the Portuguese word madeira (wood)?

Yes! When Portuguese explorers arrived in the 15th century, the island was covered in dense forests, so they named it after the wood. Remember to capitalize Madeira when referring to the island, but keep madeira lowercase when talking about the material.