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Estas camisas estão em promoção esta semana.

Estas camisas estão em promoção esta semana.
These shirts are on sale this week.
FromLesson 37inHardcore Portuguese (Portugal)

Breakdown of Estas camisas estão em promoção esta semana.

estar
to be
esta
this
a semana
the week
a camisa
the shirt
estas
these
em promoção
on sale

Questions & Answers about Estas camisas estão em promoção esta semana.

Why is it estão and not são?
Because being “on sale” is a temporary state. Portuguese uses estar for temporary or changing conditions: estas camisas estão em promoção. Using são would be unnatural here. You might say são baratas (they are cheap—general quality), but for a temporary discount, use estar.
What exactly does em promoção mean? Is it the same as English “on sale”?

Yes—when “on sale” means “discounted.” In Portuguese:

  • em promoção = discounted/part of a sale
  • à venda = available for purchase (not necessarily discounted)

So “These shirts are on sale (discounted)” = Estas camisas estão em promoção. “These shirts are for sale” = Estas camisas estão à venda.

Could I say em saldos or em oferta instead of em promoção?
  • em saldos is used in Portugal for the official sale seasons (e.g., January/July sales). Outside those periods, prefer em promoção.
  • em oferta can mean discounted in ads, but oferta also means “free gift,” so context matters. Retailers also use em campanha (“in a promotion campaign”).
Why not na promoção?
Em promoção is a fixed expression meaning “on sale/discounted.” Na promoção (“in the promotion”) refers to a specific promotion already mentioned: Estas camisas estão na promoção de verão (“in the summer promotion”). Without that context, use em promoção.
What’s the difference between estas, essas, and aquelas?

They’re demonstratives:

  • estas = “these” (near the speaker)
  • essas = “those” (near the listener or just mentioned)
  • aquelas = “those (over there)” (far from both) Pointing at shirts in front of you: estas camisas. Talking about shirts near your friend: essas camisas.
Why is it estas camisas but esta semana?

Agreement in gender and number:

  • camisas is feminine plural → estas
  • semana is feminine singular → esta Same root, different endings to match each noun.
Can I say As camisas estão em promoção esta semana instead? Does that change the meaning?
Yes, it’s grammatical. As camisas = “the shirts” (specific or context-known). Estas camisas = “these shirts” (deictic—physically indicated or very specific subset). Use estas if you’re pointing at the shirts in front of you.
Where can I put the time expression esta semana?

Typical placements:

  • End (neutral): Estas camisas estão em promoção esta semana.
  • Beginning (topicalized, add comma): Esta semana, estas camisas estão em promoção. Avoid sticking it between the verb and its complement: Estas camisas esta semana estão em promoção sounds awkward.
Is nesta semana also correct?
Yes. Nesta = em + esta (contracted). In Portugal, esta semana is more common in everyday speech; nesta semana feels a bit more formal or emphatic (“within this week”). Both are fine.
Do I ever need a preposition before esta semana? Is na esta semana correct?

Don’t say na esta semana. Either:

How do I pronounce the sentence in European Portuguese?

Approximate IPA: [ˈeʃtɐʃ kɐˈmizɐʃ ɨʃˈtɐ̃w̃ ẽ pɾomuˈsɐ̃w̃ ˈeʃtɐ sɨˈmɐnɐ]

Rough guide:

  • estas ≈ ESH-tash
  • camisas ≈ ka-MEE-zash
  • estão ≈ ish-TOWN (nasal “ow”)
  • em ≈ nasal “eng”
  • promoção ≈ pro-moo-SOWN (nasal “own”)
  • esta semana ≈ ESH-ta se-MA-na

Final -s in EP often sounds like “sh”.

What’s the difference between esta, está, and estão?
  • esta = “this” (feminine singular demonstrative): esta semana
  • está = “is” (3rd person singular of estar): A camisa está em promoção.
  • estão = “are” (3rd person plural of estar): As/Estas camisas estão em promoção.

Note the accent/tilde: está (acute), estão (tilde). esta has no accent.

Can I drop words if the context is obvious?
  • If pointing, you can drop the noun: Estas estão em promoção esta semana. (“These are on sale…”)
  • On signs, you’ll often see shorter noun phrases without the verb: Camisas em promoção esta semana.
How do I make it a question or negative?
  • Question (just rising intonation and a question mark): Estas camisas estão em promoção esta semana?
  • Negative: Estas camisas não estão em promoção esta semana. More formal inversion is possible: Estão estas camisas em promoção esta semana?
Is promoção ever plural here?
Not in this set phrase. Use singular: em promoção. You’d only use plural if talking about multiple distinct promotions: Há várias promoções esta semana.
Does camisa mean any shirt in Portugal?

In Portugal:

  • camisa = a collared shirt (dress shirt)
  • t-shirt = “t-shirt” (often said in English) or sometimes camisola (but camisola can also mean sweater/jumper) So camisas here suggests collared shirts, unless the store labels use the term more loosely.
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