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A lata está vazia.

A lata está vazia.
The can is empty.
From Lesson 133:As medidas e as quantidades (a dúzia, tanto)·Portuguese (Portugal)

Questions & Answers about A lata está vazia.

Why do we use está instead of é for "is" in this sentence?
In Portuguese, we use the verb estar for temporary states or conditions. Since a can being empty is a changeable state (it can be filled again), we use está rather than é (which is from the verb ser, used for permanent traits).
Why does the word for empty end in an "a" (vazia)?
Adjectives in Portuguese have to match the gender of the noun they describe. Because lata (can) is a feminine word, the adjective for empty must take its feminine form, vazia, instead of the masculine form, vazio.
If I wanted to talk about multiple empty cans, how would this sentence change?
You would need to make every part of the sentence plural: As latas estão vazias. Notice that the verb becomes estão and both the noun and the adjective get an "s" at the end.
Is lata used for both soda cans and tin cans for food?
Yes! Lata is a general word used for both beverage cans (like a can of cola) and tin cans used for preserved food (like a can of beans).

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