Translation for "were slaves" to french

Were slaves

• étaient des esclaves
• étaient esclaves

Translation examples

étaient esclaves

I think they were slaves.
Je pense qu'ils étaient esclaves.

I'm thinkin' they were cryin' because they were slaves and they're being buried alive.
Je crois qu'ils pleuraient parce qu'ils étaient esclaves et enterrés vifs.

They were slaves, I hear.
Ils étaient esclaves, il paraît.