Learn Portuguese (Portugal): A bicicleta nova é rápida.

In Portuguese, adjectives usually come directly after the noun they describe. So, instead of saying "the new bicycle" like in English, you say a bicicleta nova (the bicycle new).

Why is it nova and not novo?

Adjectives have to match the gender of the noun they describe. Because bicicleta is a feminine noun (which we can tell by the feminine word for 'the', a), the adjective changes its ending to match, becoming the feminine nova instead of the masculine novo.

Does the second adjective, rápida, also have to match the noun?

Yes! Even though rápida (fast) is separated from bicicleta by the verb é, it still describes the bicycle. Therefore, it must also take the feminine singular form, ending in "-a" (rápida) rather than the masculine "-o" (rápido).

Why do we use é here instead of está for the word "is"?

We use é (from the verb ser) because being fast is seen as a permanent or built-in characteristic of this particular bicycle's design. If we used está (from estar), it would imply a temporary state, which is not how the Portuguese language usually talks about an object's top speed.