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A caneta roxa é pequena.

A caneta roxa é pequena.
The purple pen is small.
From Lesson 34:Colours (vermelho, amarelo, cor-de-rosa)·Portuguese (Portugal)

Breakdown of A caneta roxa é pequena.

ser
to be
pequeno
small
a caneta
the pen
roxo
purple

Questions & Answers about A caneta roxa é pequena.

Why does the sentence say caneta roxa instead of roxa caneta?
In Portuguese, adjectives (words that describe things, like colors) usually come after the noun they are describing. So, 'purple pen' becomes caneta (pen) roxa (purple).
Why do the words for purple and small end in '-a' here?
Caneta is a feminine noun, which we can tell by the feminine word for 'the' (a) in front of it. In Portuguese, adjectives must match the gender of the noun they describe. The standard masculine words roxo (purple) and pequeno (small) change their endings to '-a' to become roxa and pequena.
Why do we use é for 'is' instead of está?
É comes from the verb ser, which is used to describe permanent or lasting characteristics. Because a pen's color and size are built-in features that don't change from day to day, we use ser rather than estar (which is for temporary states like moods or location).
How is the 'x' pronounced in the word roxa?
The letter 'x' can make a few different sounds in Portuguese, but in roxa, it makes a 'sh' sound, exactly like the 'sh' in the English word 'shoe'.

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