ils portaient

were wearing, were carrying

p ɔ ʁ . t ɛ → porter
port to wear; to carry + aient 3rd person plural imperfect
verb · third plural · imperfect indicative Rare #28,532
were wearing, were carrying Imperfect tense (ils/elles).
FR: Ils portaient des manteaux épais parce qu’il faisait froid.
EN: They were wearing thick coats because it was cold.
Conjugation of porter
Indicative imperfect
SingularPlural
First portais
Second portais
Third portait portaient

Qui ne portaient qu'un seul bouclier.

Who carried only a single shield.

— Picnic (1955)

Tom et Mary portaient leurs nouveaux chapeaux.

Tom and Mary were wearing their new hats.

Heureusement, tous les passagers portaient leur ceinture.

Fortunately, all passengers were wearing their seatbelts.

Les deux filles portaient la même robe au bal.

Both girls wore the same dress to the ball.

Elles se portaient bien.

They were doing well.

Tous portaient du noir.

They all wore black.

Ils se portaient bien.

They were doing well.

Ils ne portent pas de lunettes, mais ils en portaient.

They don't wear glasses, but they used to.

Tous les braqueurs portaient un masque.

All the robbers wore masks.

La plupart des soldats portaient du vert.

Most of the soldiers wore green.

Sounds similar to