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:
- esta semana (no preposition), or
- nesta semana (the contraction em + esta).
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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