Portuguese Phrase
Costumam ficar perto dos lenços de papel.
Meaning
The sentence states that a group of people (or objects) usually stay close to the paper tissues. It conveys a habitual location rather than a one‑time action.
When to use
Use this phrase when you want to describe a regular habit of where someone or something is found, especially in informal or conversational Portuguese – e.g., talking about coworkers in a break room, friends in a café, or pets that always linger near the tissue box.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Costumamficarpertodoslençosdepapel
Costumar (habitual action)
Costumar is used to express a habitual or repeated action. In the third‑person plural it becomes costumam, agreeing with a plural subject (they).
Infinitive after Costumar
When costumar is followed by another verb, that verb stays in the infinitive (ficar).
perto de + article
The preposition perto (near) is always followed by de and the appropriate article; de + os contracts to dos.
lenços de papel
A noun phrase where the first noun (lenços) is modified by a second noun (papel) using the preposition de, similar to “paper tissues”.
🗨In Conversation
Você já percebeu onde eles costumam ficar?
Have you noticed where they usually stay?
Costumam ficar perto dos lenços de papel.
They usually stay near the paper tissues.
✕Common Mistakes
Costumam ficar perto dos lenço de papel.
The noun must agree in number with the article dos; use the plural lenços.
Costuma ficar perto dos lenços de papel.
Costuma is singular; if the subject is plural you need costumam.
Costumam ficar perto dos lenços papel.
The linking preposition de is required between the two nouns.
↔Alternatives
Eles geralmente ficam perto dos lenços de papel.
They generally stay near the paper tissues.
Costumam estar próximos dos lenços de papel.
They tend to be close to the paper tissues.
Normalmente ficam perto dos lenços de papel.
They normally stay near the paper tissues.
Cultural Tip
In Brazil, a "lenço de papel" is the disposable tissue you find in bathrooms, offices, or on restaurant tables. When talking about habits, Brazilians often use costumar + infinitive, but remember to match the verb form with the subject – costumo (I), costumas (you), costumam (they). The phrase is informal and works well in everyday conversation, not in formal writing.