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O número é zero.

O número é zero.
The number is zero.
From Lesson 11:Numbers 0 to 10 (zero, um, dois)·Portuguese (Portugal)

Breakdown of O número é zero.

ser
to be
o número
the number
zero
zero

Questions & Answers about O número é zero.

Zero is spelled exactly like in English. Is it pronounced the same way?
Not quite! In Portuguese, the z sounds the same, but the e is pronounced as an open "eh" sound, and the r is a single tap against the roof of your mouth (similar to the "tt" in the American English word "butter"). The final o sounds like a short "oo". Put together, it sounds roughly like "ZEH-roo".
Why is there an accent mark on the word número?
The acute accent tells you which part of the word gets the strongest emphasis. Most Portuguese words ending in -o naturally stress the second-to-last syllable. Because the stress actually falls on the first syllable here (NÚ-me-ro), the word needs an accent mark to override the normal rule and show you exactly how to say it.
Why do we use é here instead of está to say "is"?
We use é (from the verb ser) for permanent states, facts, and identities. The fact that this specific number is zero is a permanent truth, so we use é. The other "to be" verb, estar (which gives us está), is used for temporary states like feelings or current locations.
I keep mixing up e and é. How do I remember which one is used here?
é (with the accent) is the verb meaning "is" and is pronounced with an open "eh" sound. e (without the accent) is the word for "and" and is pronounced like a short "ee" sound. Since this sentence needs a verb to say "The number is zero", we must use é.

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