Portuguese Phrase
A casa está escura.
Meaning
This phrase describes the current state of a house being without light. It uses the verb 'estar' to indicate a temporary condition rather than a permanent characteristic of the building.
When to use
Use this when you walk into a room or arrive home and notice the lights are off. It is also useful for describing the atmosphere during a power outage or at night.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Acasaestáescura
Artigo Definido (A)
The word 'A' is the feminine definite article, equivalent to 'the' in English.
Estar (está)
The verb 'estar' is used here because darkness is a temporary state of the house.
Concordância
The adjective 'escura' ends in 'a' to agree with the feminine noun 'casa'.
🗨In Conversation
Por que você não entra?
Why don't you go in?
A casa está escura, não vejo nada.
The house is dark, I don't see anything.
✕Common Mistakes
A casa é escura.
Avoid using 'ser' (é) unless you mean the house is naturally dark or poorly lit by design.
O casa está escura.
'Casa' is a feminine noun, so it requires the feminine article 'a'.
↔Alternatives
Está tudo escuro.
Everything is dark.
Não há luz na casa.
There is no light in the house.
Cultural Tip
In everyday spoken Portuguese, especially in Brazil, 'está' is often shortened to 'tá'. You will frequently hear 'A casa tá escura' in informal settings.