This is the 12419th most frequent Portuguese word.
sofriam
"Sofriam" means "they suffered" or "were suffering" in English.
In this sentence, 'sofriam' is the imperfect form of the verb 'sofrer', meaning 'to suffer', used to describe an ongoing or habitual action in the past.
Os trabalhadores sofriam com as condições adversas.
The workers suffered from the adverse conditions.
Here, 'sofriam' conveys an emotional suffering due to longing, showing the versatility of the verb.
Eles sofriam de saudades da sua terra natal ao viverem no exterior.
They longed for their homeland while living abroad.
In this instance, 'sofriam' depicts an experience repeatedly endured by children in the past.