"They are" is a contraction of the words "they" and "are." It is commonly used in English to refer to a group of people, animals, or things. For example, in the sentence "They are students," the phrase indicates that a specific group consists of students. In addition to identifying groups, "they are" can describe characteristics or actions. For instance, "They are playing soccer" shows what the group is doing. This phrase is versatile and can be used in various contexts to convey information about multiple subjects, such as friends, pets, or objects.