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El azúcar es malo para los dientes.

El azúcar es malo para los dientes.
Sugar is bad for teeth.
From Lesson 185:Article or no article (un café, zumo de naranja)·Spanish (Spain)

Questions & Answers about El azúcar es malo para los dientes.

Why is there an "El" before "azúcar" when the English translation just says "Sugar"?
In Spanish, when you talk about a noun in a general or abstract sense, like sugar as a whole substance, you must use the definite article. So, el azúcar means sugar in general, not just a specific bowl of sugar.
Is "azúcar" masculine or feminine? I sometimes see it with feminine adjectives.
Azúcar is one of the few words in Spanish that can be both! It is most commonly treated as masculine, as seen here with el and the masculine adjective malo. However, it is also correct to use it as feminine, like in azúcar blanca (white sugar).
Why do we use "es" (ser) instead of "está" (estar) for "is bad"?
We use es because being bad for your teeth is an inherent, permanent characteristic of sugar. If you used está, saying está malo, it would mean a specific batch of sugar has gone bad or tastes rotten.
Why use "para" instead of "por" here?
Para is used here because it shows the target or recipient of the effect. Sugar is bad towards or directed at the teeth. When expressing that something is good or bad for someone or something, always use para.
Why is it "los dientes" instead of just "dientes"?
Just like with el azúcar, Spanish requires the definite article (los) when making a general statement about all members of a group. Here, the sentence makes a general rule about teeth.

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