Learn Portuguese (Portugal): Nós estamos em Lisboa, e eles estão em Londres. - We are in Lisbon, and they are in London.

Nós estamos em Lisboa, e eles estão em Londres.

We are in Lisbon, and they are in London.

Breakdown of Nós estamos em Lisboa, e eles estão em Londres.

Questions & Answers about Nós estamos em Lisboa, e eles estão em Londres.

Why is it just em here instead of no or na?

The lesson teaches that em combines with words like o (the) to make no, or a to make na. However, most cities in Portuguese, like Lisboa and Londres, don't use the word "the" before them. Since there is no article to combine with, em just stays em.

Why do we use estamos and estão instead of somos and são?

To say where someone or something is located, Portuguese almost always uses the verb estar (which deals with temporary states or locations), not ser. So, we use estamos (we are) and estão (they are) to talk about physical location.

Do I have to say the words Nós (we) and eles (they), or can I leave them out?

You can usually leave out subject words like nós and eles because the verbs (estamos and estão) already tell us who is doing the action. However, in this sentence, keeping them helps create a strong contrast between the two groups: we are here, and they are there.

How is the 's' at the end of Nós and pronounced in this sentence?