Portuguese Phrase
Eram bem caros.
Meaning
The sentence means ‘They were quite expensive.’ It is used to comment on the price of something (usually a group of items, services, or a period of time) that you experienced in the past.
When to use
Use this phrase when you are recalling a past purchase, a trip, a stay at a hotel, or any situation where the cost was higher than you expected. It works for both tangible objects (e.g., tickets, meals) and intangible services (e.g., lessons, rentals).
✦Grammar Breakdown
Erambemcaros
Eram (imperfeito de ser)
‘Eram’ is the third‑person plural imperfect of the verb ‘ser’, used for permanent or habitual states in the past.
bem (advérbio de intensidade)
‘bem’ works as an intensifier meaning ‘quite’ or ‘rather’; it modifies the adjective that follows.
caros (adjetivo concordante)
‘caros’ is the masculine plural form of the adjective ‘caro’, agreeing with the plural noun it describes.
🗨In Conversation
Como foi a viagem?
How was the trip?
Os hotéis eram bem caros, mas a vista compensava.
The hotels were quite expensive, but the view made up for it.
✕Common Mistakes
Estavam bem caros.
‘Estavam’ is the imperfect of ‘estar’, which describes temporary states; for a general assessment of price you use ‘eram’ (ser).
Eram bem caro.
The adjective must agree in number and gender with the noun; ‘bem caro’ is singular, while the sentence refers to a plural subject.
Eram muito caro.
‘Muito’ can replace ‘bem’, but you must keep the adjective agreement; the mistake is using ‘muito’ without adjusting the adjective.
↔Alternatives
Eram muito caros.
They were very expensive.
Custavam muito.
They cost a lot.
Tinha um preço alto.
It had a high price.
Cultural Tip
In Brazil, people often compare prices using ‘caro’ vs ‘barato’. ‘Bem’ is a softer intensifier than ‘muito’; it suggests the price was noticeably high but not necessarily shocking. In the South of Brazil you might hear ‘bem caro’ more often, while in the Northeast speakers sometimes say ‘muito caro’ for the same idea. Remember to match the adjective’s gender and number with the noun you’re describing.