A menina loura é pequena.

Breakdown of A menina loura é pequena.

ser
to be
pequeno
small
a menina
the little girl
louro
blond

Questions & Answers about A menina loura é pequena.

Why does loura come after menina?
In Portuguese, adjectives usually come after the noun they describe. So, instead of saying 'blond girl,' you say 'girl blond' (menina loura).
Why do loura and pequena both end in '-a'?
Because they are describing menina (girl), which is a feminine noun. In Portuguese, adjectives must match the gender of the noun they describe. If we were talking about a boy (menino), we would use the masculine forms and say menino louro and pequeno.
Why use é in this sentence instead of está?
The verb ser (to be) is used for permanent or lasting characteristics. Because having blond hair and being a certain size are considered lasting physical traits here, we use é rather than está (which is used for temporary states or locations).
I have seen the word 'loira' before. Is loura different?
No, they mean the exact same thing! Both loura and loira are correct and widely used in Portugal to mean 'blond'.

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