Learn Spanish (Latin America): Mi chaqueta es negra.

Mi chaqueta es negra.

My jacket is black.

Breakdown of Mi chaqueta es negra.

Questions & Answers about Mi chaqueta es negra.

Why is it mi and not mis?

mi is the singular word for 'my'. You use it here because you are only talking about one jacket (chaqueta). If you were talking about multiple jackets, you would use the plural mis (mis chaquetas).

Does mi change to a feminine form to match the feminine word chaqueta?

No. The possessive words for 'my' (mi) and 'your' (tu) only change for number, meaning you just add an 's' if the noun is plural. They do not change for gender, so mi is used for both masculine and feminine singular nouns.

Why is the word for black negra instead of negro?

Colors are adjectives, which means they must match the gender of the noun they describe. Because chaqueta is a feminine noun, the masculine word negro changes to its feminine form, negra.

Why do we use es instead of está for the jacket's color?

We use es (from the verb ser) for basic characteristics and physical descriptions. Since being black is a permanent property of this jacket, and not a temporary condition, we use es.