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A secretária do diretor é simpática.

A secretária do diretor é simpática.
The director's secretary is nice.
From Lesson 170:Na escola e no escritório (o estudante)·Portuguese (Portugal)

Questions & Answers about A secretária do diretor é simpática.

Why use é here instead of está?
We use é (from the verb ser) because being simpática (nice or friendly) is treated as an inherent personality trait of the secretary. If we wanted to say she is just acting nice right now, we would use está (from estar).
Is simpática related to the English word "sympathetic"?
No, it is a common "false friend"! In Portuguese, simpática means "nice", "pleasant", or "friendly". If you want to describe someone as sympathetic (understanding someone's feelings), you would use a word like compreensiva. Also, notice that simpática ends in an "a" to match the feminine noun secretária.
Could a secretária translate to anything else?
Yes, a secretária can also mean a writing desk! However, context makes it clear we are talking about a person here, since a desk cannot be simpática (friendly). A male secretary, on the other hand, would be o secretário.
Why do we say do diretor instead of just de diretor?
In Portuguese, you do not use an apostrophe "s" ('s) to show possession. Instead, you must say "the secretary of the director". Do is the required contraction of the preposition de (of) and the masculine article o (the) before the masculine noun diretor.

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