En 15 secondes
- Standard 'they are' for male/mixed groups.
- Used for descriptions and introductions.
- Works in casual and formal settings.
- Avoid for all-female groups; use 'Elas são'.
Signification
Cette phrase, `Eles são...`, est votre solution lorsque vous parlez d'un groupe d'hommes ou d'un mélange de personnes. Considérez-la comme le réglage par défaut pour parler d''eux' lorsque vous ne désignez pas spécifiquement un groupe de femmes uniquement. C'est très courant et cela dégage une ambiance neutre et descriptive.
Exemples clés
3 sur 12Texting a friend about a sports team
Eles são os melhores jogadores!
They are the best players!
Introducing new colleagues in a meeting
Eles são os novos engenheiros da equipe.
They are the new engineers on the team.
Instagram caption for a photo of friends
Meus parceiros de crime! Eles são demais.
My partners in crime! They are awesome.
Contexte culturel
Used constantly in daily life. Used in formal and informal settings.
Gender rule
Always use masculine for mixed groups.
En 15 secondes
- Standard 'they are' for male/mixed groups.
- Used for descriptions and introductions.
- Works in casual and formal settings.
- Avoid for all-female groups; use 'Elas são'.
What It Means
Eles são... is your standard way to say 'they are...' in Portuguese. It's used when referring to a group of two or more people. The key thing to remember is that eles is masculine. So, you use it for groups of only men, or for mixed groups where there's at least one man. It's the default, like wearing jeans – it just works in most situations.
How To Use It
Simply pop Eles são... at the start of a sentence to describe a group. You can follow it with adjectives, nouns, or descriptions. For example, Eles são altos (They are tall) or Eles são meus amigos (They are my friends). It's like building blocks for describing people. You can also use it to talk about things, but people are more common. So, if you see a group of guys playing soccer, you can say, Eles são bons no jogo (They are good at the game).
Formality & Register
This phrase is incredibly versatile. You can use it from casual chats with friends to more formal settings. Think texting your buddy about the new movie: Eles são incríveis! (They are incredible!). Or, in a professional setting, introducing colleagues: Eles são os novos gerentes (They are the new managers). It’s like a chameleon – it fits right in. It’s not slang, but it's not stiff either. It’s the comfortable middle ground.
Real-Life Examples
Imagine scrolling through Instagram. You see a pic of your cousins: Eles são a minha família favorita! (They are my favorite family!). Or maybe you're watching a Netflix show. The narrator says: Eles são os heróis da história (They are the heroes of the story). Even ordering food via an app, you might describe the delivery drivers: Eles são muito rápidos (They are very fast). It’s everywhere!
When To Use It
Use Eles são... when you're talking about:
- A group of men.
- A mixed group of men and women.
- A group of boys.
- Sometimes, even a group of animals (like dogs).
- Generally, any group where you're not *specifically* talking about only women or girls. It’s the safe bet!
When NOT To Use It
Don't use Eles são... if you are *only* talking about a group of women or girls. In that case, you need to switch to Elas são.... Forgetting this is like wearing socks with sandals – noticeable! Also, avoid it if you're talking about just *one* person; then you'd use Ele é... (He is...) or Ela é... (She is...).
Common Mistakes
A classic blunder is using Eles são... for an all-female group. This is a big one! Also, confusing it with the singular forms Ele é... or Ela é... trips up many. Remember, Eles is plural. It’s like asking for one cookie but getting the whole jar – too much!
Common Variations
In Brazil, you might hear Eles tão... as a super casual, spoken shortcut for Eles estão... (They are - temporary state). It’s very informal, like texting abbreviations. In Portugal, the pronunciation might differ slightly, but the usage is the same. Regional accents are the spice of life, right? Don't worry too much; Eles são... is universally understood.
Real Conversations
Friend 1: Viu o jogo ontem?
(Did you see the game yesterday?)
Friend 2: Sim! Eles são incríveis naquele time!
(Yes! They are incredible on that team!)
Colleague 1: Quem são os novos contratados?
(Who are the new hires?)
Colleague 2: Eles são da equipe de marketing.
(They are from the marketing team.)
Quick FAQ
Q. Can I use Eles são... for things?
A. Yes, but it's less common. Usually, you'd use Eles são... for people. For inanimate objects, context is key. It's like using emojis – sometimes they fit, sometimes they don't.
Q. What if it's a mixed group, like 3 guys and 2 girls?
A. Perfect! Eles são... is exactly what you use. The presence of even one male makes the group default to masculine plural. It’s the law of the linguistic land!
Notes d'usage
This phrase is incredibly flexible, fitting into both casual and formal contexts with ease. The primary rule to remember is its gender agreement: use `Eles são...` for male or mixed-gender groups, and switch to `Elas são...` for exclusively female groups. Be mindful of adjective agreement as well; adjectives should match the plural subject.
Gender rule
Always use masculine for mixed groups.
Exemples
12Eles são os melhores jogadores!
They are the best players!
Describes a group of male athletes. Casual and enthusiastic.
Eles são os novos engenheiros da equipe.
They are the new engineers on the team.
Formal introduction, describing the role of a mixed or male group.
Meus parceiros de crime! Eles são demais.
My partners in crime! They are awesome.
Enthusiastic description of male or mixed friends. Very common for social media.
Eles são atores muito talentosos.
They are very talented actors.
Describing the profession and skill level of a group.
Eles são sempre pontuais.
They are always punctual.
Describing the typical behavior of delivery drivers (often a mixed group).
Eles são os vilões da história.
They are the villains of the story.
Narrative description, neutral tone.
✗ Eles são minhas irmãs → ✓ Elas são minhas irmãs
✗ They are my sisters → ✓ They are my sisters
Incorrect gender agreement. Should use 'Elas são' for females.
✗ Eles são meu amigo → ✓ Eles são meus amigos
✗ They are my friend → ✓ They are my friends
Incorrect agreement. 'Amigo' should be plural 'amigos' to match 'Eles são'.
Meus cachorros? Eles são uma bagunça adorável!
My dogs? They are an adorable mess!
Affectionate and humorous description of pets (masculine noun 'cachorros' triggers 'eles').
Estou tão orgulhoso. Eles são verdadeiros guerreiros.
I am so proud. They are true warriors.
Emotional statement highlighting resilience and strength.
Eles são os principais candidatos para a vaga.
They are the main candidates for the position.
Professional and direct statement in a formal context.
Eles são muito simpáticos.
They are very nice.
Simple, friendly description of neighbors (likely a mixed or male group).
Teste-toi
Complete the sentence.
____ são meus irmãos.
Eles is the masculine plural pronoun.
🎉 Score : /1
Aides visuelles
Formality Spectrum for 'Eles são...'
Used in quick texts, slang contexts, with close friends.
Eles tão demais!
Everyday conversations, social media, texting.
Eles são meus vizinhos.
General descriptions, most common usage.
Eles são estudantes.
Professional settings, introductions, official contexts.
Eles são os diretores da empresa.
Where You'll Hear 'Eles são...'
Talking about sports team
Eles são os melhores!
Describing colleagues
Eles são da equipe de TI.
Introducing family members
Eles são meus tios.
Commenting on movie characters
Eles são os vilões.
Giving feedback on service
Eles são muito eficientes.
Chatting with friends
Eles são engraçados.
Comparing 'Eles são...' with Similar Phrases
Usage Categories for 'Eles são...'
Descriptions
- • Eles são altos.
- • Eles são inteligentes.
- • Eles são simpáticos.
Introductions
- • Eles são meus pais.
- • Eles são os novos membros.
Professions/Roles
- • Eles são médicos.
- • Eles são os responsáveis.
Common Mistakes
- • ✗ Eles são minhas amigas.
- • ✗ Eles é legal.
Banque d exercices
1 exercices____ são meus irmãos.
Eles is the masculine plural pronoun.
🎉 Score : /1
Tutoriels video
Trouve des tutoriels vidéo sur YouTube pour cette expression.
Questions fréquentes
1 questionsNo, use Elas.
Expressions liées
Elas são
contrastThey are (feminine)
