Portuguese Phrase
Estão cheios de pó.
Meaning
This phrase describes objects or surfaces that have accumulated a layer of dust. It uses the verb 'estar' to indicate a temporary state, and 'cheios' is the plural masculine form of 'full'.
When to use
Use this phrase when cleaning the house, pointing out dirty furniture, or describing old items in a storage room. It is a common everyday observation.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Estãocheiosdepó
Estão
The third-person plural form of 'estar', indicating a current state or condition.
Cheios
The plural masculine adjective for 'full', which must agree with the plural subject.
De pó
The noun 'pó' means dust, and 'de' is the preposition 'of' used to complete the meaning of 'cheios'.
🗨In Conversation
O que você acha desses livros antigos?
What do you think of these old books?
Estão cheios de pó. Precisamos limpá-los.
They are full of dust. We need to clean them.
✕Common Mistakes
Eles são cheios de pó.
Use 'estar' instead of 'ser' because being dusty is a temporary condition, not a permanent characteristic.
Estão cheios com pó.
The adjective 'cheio' (full) is grammatically followed by the preposition 'de' in Portuguese.
↔Alternatives
Estão empoeirados.
They are dusty.
Têm muito pó.
They have a lot of dust.
Cultural Tip
In many Portuguese-speaking regions, particularly in warmer climates where windows are often left open, 'pó' (dust) accumulates quickly. Mentioning that something is 'cheio de pó' is a standard way to signal that it needs cleaning.