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Quick Grammar Reference
P o r t u g u e s e O n l i n e

>>Adjectives Irregular Adjectives > Adjectives with Nasal Endings

Irregular adjectives do not follow the expected patterns given in the section on forming adjectives.

One set of irregular adjectives has a nasal ending: either -m or -ão.

Adjectives ending in -m have two distinct forms, and they change their -m to -n- in their plural forms. One example is the word jovem young:

masculine feminine
singular jovem young jovem
plural jovens jovens

Notice that the adjective ruim bad actually has four separate forms:

masculine feminine
singular ruim bad ruina
plural ruins ruinas

Adjectives with the ending -ão also have four forms. One example is the word são healthy, sane:

masculine feminine
singular são healthy sã
plural sãos sãs

The very useful irregular adjective bom good does not change according to these rules. Its four forms are:

masculine feminine
singular bom good boa
plural bons boas

So you will say bom dia good day but boa noite good evening / good night.