How to say “This flavor is really good” in Portuguese

Introduction

Learning how to compliment food and flavors is one of the most useful skills for beginners in Brazilian Portuguese. This article explains how to say and use the phrase Esse sabor é muito bom and other natural alternatives, with vocabulary, tips, short dialogues, and common replies you can use in restaurants, at markets, or with friends.

Key phrase and simple meaning

The most direct translation of This flavor is really good is the Brazilian Portuguese phrase Esse sabor é muito bom.

Breakdown of the phrase:

Esse — that/this (used for masculine nouns like sabor)

sabor — flavor, taste

é — is (third person singular of ser)

muito — very/really

bom — good

Natural alternatives and variations

Beginners should learn a few simple alternatives to sound more natural in different contexts:

Que delícia — How delicious / What a delight (very common)

Isso tá gostoso — This is tasty (more informal)

Adorei o sabor — I loved the flavor (short, polite)

Tem um gosto ótimo — It has a great taste (slightly more formal)

When to use each version

Esse sabor é muito bom works in most situations and is clear for beginners.

Que delícia is a natural, enthusiastic reaction used at meals, bakeries, ice cream shops, and casual gatherings.

Isso tá gostoso is informal and common among friends and family. Note that tá is a contraction of está, which is informal spoken Portuguese.

Adorei o sabor is polite and useful if you want to compliment a cook or vendor.

Useful vocabulary related to flavors and food

sabor — flavor

gosto — taste

doce — sweet

salgado — salty

azedo — sour

amargo — bitter

apimentado — spicy

leite — milk

cremoso — creamy

fresco — fresh

Contextual examples for real situations

Short phrases you might see on menus or hear from servers:

Sobremesa do dia: mousse de maracujá — esse sabor é muito bom

Temos sorvete de chocolate e morango
Que delícia

O peixe é bem temperado
Isso tá gostoso

Ordering and complimenting at a restaurant

Example dialogue at a casual restaurant:

Cliente: Pode trazer o frango com molho, por favor?
Garçom: Claro. Quer algo para beber?
Cliente: Água, por favor.
(Depois de provar)
Cliente: Adorei o sabor!
Garçom: Fico feliz que gostou.

Buying food at a market or bakery

Example dialogue at a bakery:

Cliente: Esse pão é caseiro?
Vendedor: Sim, acabado de sair do forno.
Cliente: Que delícia! Posso levar dois?
Vendedor: Claro, são R$6 no total.

How to emphasize really good

To make your compliment stronger, add intensifiers or adjectives:

Esse sabor é muito bom mesmo — really good indeed

Que sabor incrível — what an incredible flavor

Isso está extremamente gostoso — this is extremely tasty (formal)

Beginners should favor muito and mesmo for emphasis because they are simple and very common.

Common replies to your compliment

When you tell someone the flavor is good, expect these natural replies:

Obrigado / Obrigada — Thank you (choose obrigado if you are male, obrigada if you are female)

Que bom que gostou — I’m glad you liked it

Fico feliz em ouvir isso — I’m happy to hear that

Beginner tips for pronunciation and usage

Pronunciation pointers:

sabor — stress on the second syllable: sa-BOR

muito — pronounced MOO-ee-too (the u sound is like English oo)

bom — nasal sound; try to pronounce like bo~m

tá — pronounced like tah; casual form of está

Practice saying each phrase slowly, then faster in a natural rhythm. Mimic short dialogues you hear in audio lessons or from native speakers.

Common beginner mistakes and how to avoid them

Using incorrect gender: sabor is masculine, so use esse not essa. Incorrect: Essa sabor é muito bom. Correct: Esse sabor é muito bom.

Mixing estar and ser incorrectly: For taste or quality in this context, you can use ser or estar depending on nuance, but beginners can safely use é: Esse sabor é muito bom. Informal spoken alternative: Isso tá gostoso.

Overcomplicating vocabulary: Start with simple words like bom, gostoso, and delícia before adding advanced adjectives.

Practical mini-dialogues for practice

Dialogue 1 — ice cream shop:

Cliente: Posso provar o sorvete de coco?
Atendente: Claro.
(prova)
Cliente: Esse sabor é muito bom!
Atendente: Quer uma bola ou duas?

Dialogue 2 — friend offers snack:

Amigo: Prove esse brigadeiro.
Você: Humm… Que delícia!
Amigo: Fico feliz que gostou.

Short cultural note for beginners

Complimenting food is a warm, common way to connect with people in Brazil. Simple phrases like Que delícia and Adorei o sabor are friendly and polite. Servers, cooks, and friends usually respond positively and appreciate honest compliments.

Summary phrases to remember

Esse sabor é muito bom — This flavor is really good

Que delícia — How delicious

Isso tá gostoso — This is tasty

Adorei o sabor — I loved the flavor

Conclusion

These simple, natural phrases will help you praise flavors and connect with people in Brazilian Portuguese. Use Esse sabor é muito bom for clear compliments, try informal alternatives like Que delícia and Isso tá gostoso, and practice short dialogues to build confidence when ordering or talking about food.