Adjective Position

Level 1

In Galician, a describing word normally comes after the noun: unha cidade grande, viño branco. A few common ones, like bo, often come first: un bo amigo.

How It Works

The normal place is after the noun. English says "a big city"; Galician says unha cidade grande, literally "a city big". Most describing words work like this: viño branco (white wine), unha casa nova (a new house), os ollos azuis (blue eyes).

After the noun in everyday Galician: colours (unha camisa vermella), nationalities and origins (a música galega), shapes and materials (unha mesa redonda). Putting these first sounds wrong in ordinary speech and writing.

Often before the noun: a few very common evaluating adjectives, especially bo and boa: un bo amigo (a good friend), boa sorte (good luck), and the greetings Bos días! and Boas noites! Galician keeps the full form bo before the noun; there is no shortened form.

Before the noun: words that count, point or order, such as numbers (dous libros), possessives (a miña casa), primeiro and último (o primeiro autobús), outro (another) and moito (a lot of).

Position can change meaning. An adjective placed before the noun can sound more personal or change what it says, as in un vello amigo (an old friend, one you have known a long time) and un amigo vello (an elderly friend). See Adjective Position and Meaning.

Examples (6)

  1. Vivo nunha cidade grande.

    I live in a big city.

    Word by Word: I-live in-a city big.

    The adjective grande follows the noun.

  2. Queres viño branco ou tinto?

    Do you want white wine or red?

    Colours follow the noun.

  3. É un bo amigo.

    He is a good friend.

    Bo often comes before the noun.

  4. Bos días!

    Good morning!

    A fixed greeting with bo before the noun.

  5. Ten os ollos azuis.

    She has blue eyes.

    Azuis is the plural of azul.

  6. Gústame moito a música galega.

    I really like Galician music.

    Nationality adjectives always follow the noun.

Common Mistakes

  • Putting a nationality adjective before the noun, English-style.

    Gústame a galega música.
    Gústame a música galega.

    Adjectives of nationality and origin always follow the noun.

  • Using the Spanish form bueno.

    É un bueno amigo.
    É un bo amigo.

    The Galician adjective is bo (feminine boa), and it keeps that form before or after the noun.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

Adjective PositionLevel 1

Learn This First

An adjective's place in the noun phrase depends on its descriptive role.