For the present tense of the verb "to be" (plural):
* sont: This is the most common translation for "are" in the present tense. It is used when the subject is plural. For example, "The flowers are beautiful" translates to "Les fleurs sont belles."
* êtes: This is used when the subject is the pronoun "vous" (you, plural). For example, "You are kind" translates to "Vous êtes gentils."
For other uses of "are" (like in questions, negative sentences, etc.):
* sont: This can also be used in these cases, particularly when the subject is plural. For example, "Are you hungry?" translates to "Avez-vous faim?"
* êtes: This can also be used in these cases, particularly when the subject is the pronoun "vous" (you, plural).
Example:
"The children are playing" - "Les enfants sont en train de jouer."
"You are my friends" - "Vous êtes mes amis."
It's important to consider the subject and the grammatical structure of the sentence to choose the correct translation.