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A senhora não é alta.

A senhora não é alta.
You are not tall.
From Lesson 2:Subject pronouns and negation (eu, não)·Portuguese (Portugal)

Questions & Answers about A senhora não é alta.

Why does the Portuguese say A senhora when the English translation is 'You'?
In Portugal, a senhora (literally 'the lady') is used as a polite, formal way to say 'you' when speaking to a woman. You would use this when talking to an older woman, a customer, or someone you do not know well.
Why do we use é (is) if the translation says 'You are'?
Even though a senhora means 'you' in this context, grammatically it acts like 'she'. Because of this, it uses the 'he/she' form of verbs. So, instead of using the informal 'you' verb form (tu és), we use the formal 3rd-person form (a senhora é).
Where does the word for 'not' (não) go in a negative sentence?
In Portuguese, making a sentence negative is very straightforward. You simply place não directly before the verb. So, while 'you are' is a senhora é, 'you are not' becomes a senhora não é.
Why is the word for tall alta instead of alto?
Adjectives in Portuguese must match the gender of the person they describe. Because a senhora refers to a female, the adjective must also be in its feminine form, which usually ends in an 'a' (alta).

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