Learn Portuguese (Portugal): Esta camisa é linda.

Esta camisa é linda.

This shirt is beautiful.

Breakdown of Esta camisa é linda.

ser

to be

este

this (este, esta, estes, estas)

Questions & Answers about Esta camisa é linda.

Why is it Esta and not Este?

Esta means 'this' and is used because it must match the gender of the noun it goes with. Since camisa (shirt) is a feminine word, we use the feminine form esta instead of the masculine form este.

Could I use Essa instead of Esta?

You could, but it changes the meaning slightly based on physical distance! Use esta (this) when the shirt is right near you, like if you are holding it. Use essa (that) if the shirt is near the person you are talking to, or just slightly out of your reach.

Why use é instead of está for 'is'?

É comes from the verb ser, which is used for permanent qualities. By saying é linda, you are saying the shirt itself is naturally beautiful. If you used está (from the verb estar), it would imply the shirt just looks beautiful temporarily, which sounds a bit unusual for a piece of clothing.

Why does the sentence end with linda instead of lindo?

Just like the word esta, adjectives in Portuguese must match the gender of the noun they describe. Because camisa is a feminine noun, the adjective for 'beautiful' must also be in its feminine form, linda.