Portuguese adjectives

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Portuguese adjectives have to agree with the noun they go with in gender and in number. In the dictionary you will find the masculine singular form of an adjective, based on this form, we will give a set of rules on forming the other declensions of an adjective:

Forming masculine singular nouns:

• This is the baseform as listed in a dictionary, based on this form we will form the others

Forming feminine singular nouns:

• If the adjective ends in -O, change this to -A
• If the adjective ends in -ÊS, change this to -ESA
• Adjectives ending in a consonant or -E remain unchanged

Forming masculine plural nouns:

• If the adjective ends in -O, add -S
• If the adjective ends in -E, add -S
• If the adjective ends in a consonant, add -ES
• If the adjective ends in -AL, change this to -AIS
• If the adjective ends in -IL or -EL, change this to -EIS
• If the adjective ends in -UL, change this to -UIS
• If the adjective ends in -M, change this to -NS

Forming feminine plural nouns:

• If the adjective ends in -O, change this to -AS
• If the adjective ends in -E, add -S
• If the adjective ends in a consonant, add -ES
• If the adjective ends in -AL, change this to -AIS
• If the adjective ends in -IL or -EL, change this to -EIS
• If the adjective ends in -UL, change this to -UIS
• If the adjective ends in -M, change this to -NS

The adjective is usually placed behind the noun it applies to but can appear in front of the noun as well, this latter placement method usually conveys the message of the adjective being taken for granted and not contributing a lot.

• Um carro azul - A blue car
• Uma casa azul - A blue house
• Uns carros azuis - blue cars
• Umas casas azuis - blue houses

Adjectives expressing a quantity always appear in front of the noun they apply to:

• Muitos carros - Many cars

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