Learn Spanish (Latin America): Mi hermano es joven e independiente.

Mi hermano es joven e independiente.

My brother is young and independent.

Breakdown of Mi hermano es joven e independiente.

Questions & Answers about Mi hermano es joven e independiente.

Why does the sentence use e instead of y for 'and'?

The word y changes to e when the following word starts with an 'i' sound. Since independiente starts with an 'i', saying y independiente would create an awkward double 'ee' sound. Changing it to e makes it flow much better.

Would independiente change to end in 'a' if I was talking about my sister?

No, it stays exactly the same. Adjectives that end in -e in Spanish are gender-neutral. Whether you are talking about a brother (hermano) or a sister (hermana), you still use independiente.

Why do we use es instead of está? Isn't being young a temporary state?

That is a very common trap! While it is true that people do not stay young forever, Spanish treats age and life stages as fundamental descriptions of who a person is right now. For defining traits and characteristics, we always use the verb ser, which gives us es.

What happens to the word joven if I want to say 'My brothers are young'?

Because joven ends in a consonant, you make it plural by adding -es. However, you also have to add an accent mark over the 'o' to keep the pronunciation stress in the right place, making it jóvenes.