Breakdown of Que entrem!
entrar
to enter
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Questions & Answers about Que entrem!
Why does this sentence translate to 'Let them come in' when que usually means 'that' or 'what'?
When que starts a sentence and is followed by a verb in the subjunctive mood, it acts as an indirect command or a strong wish. You can imagine a hidden phrase like 'I demand that...' or 'I want that...' right before it. In English, we usually translate this structure as 'Let [someone]...' or 'May [something]...'.
Why use the subjunctive form entrem instead of the normal present tense entram?
The subjunctive mood is required here because you are expressing a command or a desire for an action to happen, rather than stating a fact. If you used the indicative entram, it would just be a statement of fact meaning 'they are coming in'.
How do we know the subject is 'them' if there is no pronoun like eles or elas?
Because Portuguese often drops pronouns, the subject is hidden in the verb ending -em. This ending applies to the third-person plural. While the default translation without context is 'them' (eles or elas), it could also refer to vocês (you, plural). If you were speaking directly to a group of people, this exact sentence would mean 'Come in, guys!'.