Learn Portuguese (Portugal): Isto é um telemóvel novo.

Isto é um telemóvel novo.

This is a new mobile phone.

Breakdown of Isto é um telemóvel novo.

Questions & Answers about Isto é um telemóvel novo.

Why do we use um here instead of uma?

um is the masculine singular word for "a" or "an". We use it here because telemóvel is a masculine noun. If the object were feminine, like a house (casa), we would use uma (uma casa).

Why does novo come after telemóvel?

In Portuguese, describing words (adjectives) usually come right after the noun they describe. Instead of saying "a new phone" as we do in English, the structure is "a phone new" (um telemóvel novo).

Why is the first word Isto and not Este?

Isto is a general word for "this" used when pointing to a standalone thing or an unidentified object, like when saying "This is a...". If you wanted to say "This phone is new", you would need the masculine word Este to match the noun directly: Este telemóvel é novo.

I've heard the word "celular" for cell phone. Can I use that instead of telemóvel?

In Portugal, people exclusively use telemóvel for a mobile phone. You will hear celular in Brazilian Portuguese, but since you are learning European Portuguese, you should always use telemóvel.