Portuguese Phrase
Eles usam satélites e dados.
Meaning
The sentence states that a group of people or an organization makes use of satellites and data, typically in a technological, scientific or communications context.
When to use
Use this phrase when you want to describe how a company, government agency, research team, or any collective is employing satellite technology and the data those satellites collect.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Elesusamsatélitesedados
Pronome pessoal (Eles)
‘Eles’ is the third‑person plural pronoun meaning ‘they’; it agrees with the verb in number.
Verbo ‘usar’ (usam)
‘Usar’ is a regular –ar verb. In the present indicative, the 3rd‑person plural form is ‘usam’.
Plural de substantivo (satélites, dados)
Both nouns end in –s in the plural. ‘Satélite’ takes an accent on the e; the plural adds –s: ‘satélites’. ‘Dado’ (singular) becomes ‘dados’ for ‘data’.
Conjunção ‘e’
The simple coordinating conjunction ‘e’ links two items of the same grammatical category.
🗨In Conversation
Como a empresa monitora o clima?
How does the company monitor the weather?
Eles usam satélites e dados.
They use satellites and data.
✕Common Mistakes
Eles usa satélites e dados.
Verb must agree with the plural subject; use ‘usam’, not ‘usa’.
Eles usam satélite e dados.
The noun needs to be plural to match ‘e dados’; use ‘satélites’.
Eles usam satélites e dado.
‘Dado’ singular means ‘given’ or ‘dice’; for ‘data’ you need the plural ‘dados’.
↔Alternatives
Eles utilizam satélites e informações.
They utilize satellites and information.
Eles empregam satélites e dados.
They employ satellites and data.
Eles trabalham com satélites e dados.
They work with satellites and data.
Cultural Tip
In Brazilian Portuguese, ‘dados’ most often refers to digital data (e.g., statistics, measurements). The word can also mean ‘dice’, so context matters. When speaking formally about technology, you may also hear ‘informações’ or ‘dados de satélite’ to be more specific.