Learn the Gender of Adjectives to Speak Better Portuguese

My previous post showed you the main rules that will help you determine if a noun is masculine or feminine.

Now you need to learn about the gender of adjectives so you can match nouns and adjectives correctly and speak better Portuguese.

In this lesson I will show you:

1. Adjectives that have their masculine and feminine forms
2. Adjectives that have one form for both masculine and feminine nouns
3. Four tips to help you master the gender of adjectives
4. Bonus: Two words that cause a lot of trouble to leaners

Adjectives that end in A or O

Adjectives that end in “a” or “o” have their feminine and masculine forms, and must agree in gender with the noun that they modify.

Examples:

• a casa bonita = the beautiful house
• o apartamento bonito = the beautiful apartment

• a menina alta = the tall girl
• o menino alto = the tall boy

• a gata pequena = the small female cat
• o gato pequeno = the small male cat

This Might Surprise You

This is true for the colors as well:

• o casaco vermelho = the red coat
• a camiseta vermelha = the red t-shirt

• a bolsa preta = the black purse
• o sapato preto = the black shoe

There are two exceptions. These colors end in “a” but have a single form for both masculine and feminine nouns:

• cinza = gray
• rosa = pink

Adjectives with a single form

Other adjectives have a single form for both masculine and feminine. These adjectives usually do not end in “a” or “o”.

Examples:

• a casa grande = the big house
• o carro grande = the big car

• a menina inteligente = the intelligent girl
• o menino inteligente = the intelligent boy

• a mulher feliz = the happy woman
• o homem feliz = tha happy man

• a camisa elegante = the elegant shirt
• o sapato elegante = the elegant shoe

Four tips to help your Portuguese

Tip # 1

The general rule is that the noun comes before the adjective.

• O prédio alto = the tall building
• A mulher bonita = the beautiful woman
• O gato amarelo = the yellow cat

Tip # 2

Objects do not change genders. If an object is feminine, it is always feminine. If an object is masculine, it is always masculine.

• A mesa: Table is always a feminine word
• O carro: Car is always a masculine word

Tip # 3

Nouns rule the relationship. If a noun is masculine, the adjectives that refer to that noun will be used in the masculine. If a noun is feminine, the adjectives that refer to that noun will be used in the feminine.

Tip # 4

Verbs do not have a gender. Verb conjugations do not depend on the gender of who is speaking or who the verb refers to.

• Ela fala português. = She speaks Portuguese.
• Ele fala português. = He speaks Portuguese.

• Ana: Eu falo inglês. = I speak English.
• Tom: Eu falo inglês. = I speak English.

A bola vs. O bolo

These two nouns are a great source of confusion for learners:

• a bola de futebol = the soccer ball
• o bolo de chocolate = the chocolate cake

Avoid getting in trouble! Watch this fun video lesson on Similar words that can get you into trouble 🙂

Practice with your instructor

1. Describe a girlfriend or a woman in your family
2. Describe a guy friend or a man in your family
3. Describe yourself.
4. Describe your home.

Don’t have an instructor? Book a Trial Lesson with Street Smart Brazil today! See for yourself the positive difference that a professional instructor will make in your ability to communicate effectively in Portuguese.