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

>>Adjectives >  Irregular Adjectives > Adjectives with Other Endings

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

There are a small number of irregular adjectives that end in each of the following: -l, -s, -au and -éu). The tables below list the four forms of a sample adjective having one of these endings. Please remember that these words still follow all the rules of regular adjectives, even though they do not share the same expected endings.

Adjectives ending in -l have two distinct forms, and they change their -l to -is in the plural. One example is the word azul blue (stressed on the last syllable):

Compare this to the adjective fácil easy:

All adjectives in -l change the final -l to -is in their plural forms. Only adjectives ending in -il that are not stressed on the final syllable change the final -il to -eis in the plural. Like fácil easy, those changing from -il to -eis will all carry a written accent mark. Also note that espanhol Spanish has the feminine form espanhola, and the plurals espanhois (masculine) and espanholas (feminine). 

Adjectives with the ending -s have only one form. An example is the word simples simple (the opposite of complex):

Keep in mind, however, that the ending -ês has four separate forms, and loses its circumflex (^) in the other forms. This ending is very common on words describing nationality. An example is the word português Portuguese:

Ending in -au, the adjective mau is the common word for bad. It is very irregular:

A few adjectives end in -éu. They have four forms:

As a rule, the accent is not written on the feminine forms in Portugal, where you will instead find europeia and europeias.