Learn Portuguese (Portugal): De onde são vocês?

In English, we often end a sentence with a preposition like 'from' ('Where are you from?'). In Portuguese, sentences never end with a preposition. Instead, it must go right before the question word, making it De onde (literally 'From where').

I thought são meant 'they are'. Why is it used here for 'you'?

In Portuguese, the plural pronoun for 'you' (vocês) shares the exact same verb conjugations as 'they' (eles and elas). So, the verb ser (to be) becomes são whether you mean 'they are' or 'you all are'.

Can I change the word order to De onde vocês são?

Yes, you can! Both De onde são vocês? and De onde vocês são? are perfectly correct. Inverting the verb (são) and the subject (vocês) is a common way to form questions in Portuguese, but keeping the regular subject-verb order is also fine.

Why use são (from the verb ser) instead of a form of the verb estar?

The verb ser is used for permanent characteristics, which includes your origin or nationality. Since where you are from does not change, we use ser instead of estar (which is used for temporary states or your current location).