prolongam

Prolongam is the third-person plural present indicative form of the Portuguese verb prolongar. It translates as “they prolong” or “they extend” and is used to describe making something longer in duration, size, or scope. The infinitive prolongar comes from Latin prolongare, formed from pro- “forward” and longus “long.”

In standard Portuguese, prolongar is a regular -ar verb. Its present indicative forms are: eu prolongo, tu prolongas, ele/ela prolonga, nós prolongamos, vós prolongais, eles/elas prolongam. Therefore, prolongam is the form used with subjects such as “eles” or “elas.” The verb can also appear in reflexive constructions, as in prolongar-se, meaning to extend oneself or to endure for a longer time.

Usage notes include the distinction between prolongar and other terms for extension. Prolongar generally refers to lengthening duration or physical length, while prorrogar is often used for extending deadlines or validity periods in legal or administrative contexts. Prolongar can also describe extending a process, a conversation, or a period of time.

Related forms include the noun prolongamento or prolongação, meaning an act or result of prolonging; and the adjective prolongado, meaning prolonged or extended. The concept appears across formal and informal discourse, in contexts such as logistics, events, scheduling, and negotiations.

In summary, prolongam is the standard present-tense form used to indicate that a plural subject is extending something, reflecting the regular conjugation pattern of -ar verbs in Portuguese.