Introduction
This short guide teaches how to say These tomatoes are growing well in Brazilian Portuguese and how to use related words and phrases in everyday conversations. Perfect for beginners, the article explains key vocabulary, simple grammar, sample sentences, and short dialogues you might use while gardening, shopping at a market, or chatting with neighbors.
- Key phrase and literal translation
- Why choose estar + gerund
- Related vocabulary for gardening and markets
- Common phrases and short sentences
- Short, realistic dialogues for beginners
- Pronunciation tips for beginners
- Common mistakes to avoid
- Practical examples you might see or use
- Tips to sound natural for beginners
- Common follow-up questions about plant growth
- Short checklist for talking about growth
- Useful verbs conjugated (present and gerund)
- How to adapt the phrase for other fruits or plants
- Conclusion
Key phrase and literal translation
The main sentence you need is Esses tomates estão crescendo bem.
Literal translation in English: These tomatoes are growing well.
Breakdown of the phrase:
Esses = these (masculine plural; used for tomatoes)
tomates = tomatoes
estão = are (third person plural of the verb estar, used for temporary states)
crescendo = growing (present progressive of crescer)
bem = well
Why choose estar + gerund
In Brazilian Portuguese, the combination of estar + gerund (estão crescendo) expresses an action happening right now or a temporary change. For plants growing at this moment or during the season, estão crescendo sounds natural.
Alternative: You can use the simple present to state a more general fact: Esses tomates crescem bem. This suggests they generally grow well over time, not just now.
When to use each form
Use Esses tomates estão crescendo bem when you are observing the plants now or reporting a recent improvement.
Use Esses tomates crescem bem when referring to the typical performance of the tomato plants across seasons.
Related vocabulary for gardening and markets
planta = plant
horta = vegetable garden
canteiro = garden bed
solo = soil
adubo = fertilizer
regar = to water (verb)
luvas de jardinagem = gardening gloves
colher = to harvest or to pick (verb)
maduro = ripe
verde = green, unripe
Common phrases and short sentences
Os tomates estão maduros = The tomatoes are ripe.
Vamos colher os tomates = Let’s pick/harvest the tomatoes.
Precisa regar a horta = The garden needs watering.
O solo está bom = The soil is good.
Usei adubo orgânico = I used organic fertilizer.
How to form negatives and questions
Negative: Esses tomates não estão crescendo bem = These tomatoes are not growing well.
Question: Esses tomates estão crescendo bem? = Are these tomatoes growing well?
Yes/No answers: Sim, estão = Yes, they are. Não, não estão = No, they are not.
Short, realistic dialogues for beginners
Dialogue 1 — neighbor conversation at a garden
Oi, como vai a horta?
Vai bem.
Esses tomates estão crescendo bem.
Que bom! Você usou algum adubo?
Usei adubo orgânico e reguei todos os dias.
Dialogue 2 — at a farmers market
Quanto estão os tomates?
Dois reais o quilo.
Estão maduros?
Sim, estão maduros e saborosos.
Dialogue 3 — asking for help with plants
Meus tomates não estão crescendo bem.
Você está regando com frequência?
Não muito. Devo regar mais?
Sim, regar de manhã é melhor.
Pronunciation tips for beginners
Tomates: to-MA-tes; stress on the second syllable.
Estão: pronounced es-TOW (nasal ending). The tilde on ã makes the vowel nasal.
Crescendo: cre-SEN-do; the e in the second syllable sounds like the e in set.
Bem: pronounced beng (nasal vowel, similar to ‘bem’ in French bon).
Common mistakes to avoid
Using estar vs. ser incorrectly: For temporary growth use estão crescendo, not são crescendo. Ser is not used to form progressive tenses.
Wrong plural agreement: Tomatoes is plural, so use esses tomates estão not esse tomate está unless you’re speaking about a single tomato.
Omitting the gerund: Saying Esses tomates crescendo without a conjugated verb is incorrect. Use estão crescendo or crescem.
Practical examples you might see or use
At a community garden sign: Canteiro 3 — tomates
In a message to a friend: Os tomates da minha horta estão crescendo bem hoje.
On a recipe note: Pegue tomates maduros.
At a store: Tomates frescos — preço por quilo.
Simple sentence variations to expand your vocabulary
Esses tomates parecem saudáveis = These tomatoes look healthy.
Os frutos estão crescendo rápido = The fruits are growing fast.
As plantas precisam de sombra = The plants need shade.
Tem espaço para mais tomates? = Is there space for more tomatoes?
Tips to sound natural for beginners
Use everyday verbs: regar, colher, plantar, cuidar. These are commonly used in conversations about gardening.
Match gender and number: tomates are masculine plural, so use esses, esses tomates, eles, not ela.
Keep sentences short and concrete: Beginners communicate clearly with short phrases like Estão crescendo bem or Vou colher hoje.
Mini practice: Useful one-line responses
Que bom! — Great!
Parabéns, está indo bem — Congratulations, it’s going well.
Precisa de ajuda? — Do you need help?
Posso regar mais tarde — I can water later.
Common follow-up questions about plant growth
Como você cuida deles? = How do you take care of them?
Com que frequência você rega? = How often do you water them?
Que adubo você usa? = What fertilizer do you use?
Quando vai colher? = When will you harvest?
Short checklist for talking about growth
Identify subject: Esses tomates / Os tomates / Este tomate
Choose tense: estão crescendo (now) or crescem (habitually)
Add detail: bem, rápido, devagar, muito, pouco
Ask or answer: Está crescendo bem? Sim, estão.
Useful verbs conjugated (present and gerund)
Regar — eu rego / ele rega / estamos regando
Crescer — eu cresço / eles crescem / eles estão crescendo
Colher — eu colho / nós colhemos / estamos colhendo
Plantar — eu planto / ela planta / estamos plantando
How to adapt the phrase for other fruits or plants
Change the noun and agreement: Essas plantas estão crescendo bem for feminine plural plants.
For a singular fruit: Este tomate está crescendo bem = This tomato is growing well.
For different fruit: Esses morangos estão crescendo bem = These strawberries are growing well.
Conclusion
Now you know how to say Esses tomates estão crescendo bem and several helpful variations and vocabulary words in Brazilian Portuguese. Use the phrase when observing a garden, talking at a market, or texting a friend about plants. Keep sentences short, match gender and number, and choose between estão crescendo and crescem depending on whether you mean right now or generally.
