Introduction
Learning how to say what you like in Brazilian Portuguese opens up friendly conversations, menu choices, travel moments, and daily interactions. This article teaches simple sentence patterns, useful vocabulary, and common expressions so complete beginners can confidently say what they enjoy, prefer, or dislike.
Basic sentence structure to express likes
Start with the simplest and most common verb for likes: gostar. In Brazilian Portuguese, gostar is used with the preposition de before the thing you like. The subject can be a pronoun or a name. Focus first on present tense and oral form.
Structure: subject + conjugated verb + de + object
Examples:
Eu gosto de música.
English: I like music.
Ela gosta de café.
English: She likes coffee.
Nós gostamos de viajar.
English: We like to travel.
Conjugating gostar: present tense
Memorize these simple present forms for everyday use.
Eu gosto — I like
Tu gostas — you like (informal, less common in Brazil)
Você gosta — you like (common)
Ele/ela gosta — he/she likes
Nós gostamos — we like
Vocês gostam — you all like
Eles/elas gostam — they like
Tip: Most beginners use eu, você, and nós in conversation with Brazilians.
Common phrases to say you like something
The verb gostar appears in many basic sentences. Learn these short, practical phrases you can use right away.
Eu gosto de + noun or verb infinitive — I like
Eu gosto de ler.
English: I like to read.
Eu gosto de filmes de ação.
English: I like action movies.
Eu gosto de sorvete.
English: I like ice cream.
Você gosta de música brasileira?
English: Do you like Brazilian music?
Sim, eu gosto.
English: Yes, I like it.
Talking about preferences: more natural phrases
People often use verbs and expressions beyond gostar to describe stronger likes or preferences.
Adorar — to love (stronger than gostar)
Eu adoro dançar.
English: I love dancing.
Preferir — to prefer. Structure: subject + preferir conjugated + infinitive or noun
Eu prefiro chá.
English: I prefer tea.
Eu prefiro estudar à noite.
English: I prefer studying at night.
How to say you do not like something
Negatives are simple. Place não before the verb to say you do not like.
Eu não gosto de peixe.
English: I do not like fish.
Ela não gosta de filmes de terror.
English: She does not like horror movies.
You can also use detestar for strong dislike.
Eu detesto trânsito.
English: I hate traffic.
Using objects and activities correctly
When talking about activities, use the infinitive form of the verb after gostar de or preferir.
Eu gosto de cozinhar.
English: I like to cook.
Ele prefere viajar de ônibus.
English: He prefers to travel by bus.
For specific items, use nouns. Pay attention to prepositions and articles.
Eu gosto do livro.
English: I like the book. (do is de + o)
Eu gosto da música.
English: I like the music. (da is de + a)
Practical vocabulary for talking about likes
Here is a short list of useful nouns and verbs beginners will frequently use.
música — music
filme — movie
livro — book
comida — food
café — coffee
sorvete — ice cream
viajar — to travel
dormir — to sleep
cantar — to sing
dançar — to dance
Simple conversation examples
Practice with these mini-dialogues you might hear in a café, at school, or with friends.
Example 1
Você gosta de café?
Sim, eu gosto. E você?
English: Do you like coffee? Yes, I do. And you?
Example 2
O que você gosta de fazer no fim de semana?
Eu gosto de caminhar e ver filmes.
English: What do you like to do on the weekend? I like to walk and watch movies.
Example 3
Você prefere praia ou cidade?
Eu prefiro praia.
English: Do you prefer beach or city? I prefer the beach.
Everyday contexts: menus, signs, and messages
Beginners will find these short phrases on menus, signs, and casual messages. Recognizing them helps in practical situations.
Menu labels and quick phrases:
Sem açúcar — without sugar
Com leite — with milk
Opção vegetariana — vegetarian option
Pedido favorito — favorite order
On a menu you might read: Sorvete de chocolate — chocolate ice cream. Or a sign: Proibido fumar — no smoking.
Useful tips for beginners
1. Learn the present tense of gostar and preferir first. These cover most daily situations.
2. Remember the preposition de after gostar. Saying eu gosto música is a common learner mistake; correct form is eu gosto de música.
3. Use indefinite articles only when necessary. Brazilians often drop articles in casual speech: Eu gosto café sounds wrong — stick with eu gosto de café.
4. Practice short exchanges and mimic natural intonation. Questions like Você gosta de…? are very frequent.
Common beginner mistakes and how to fix them
Mistake: forgetting the preposition de after gostar. Correction: always say gostar de + object or verb.
Mistake: wrong verb form for preferences. Correction: use prefiro for eu in present: Eu prefiro, not Eu prefero.
Mistake: literal translation of English structure. Correction: Brazilian Portuguese often uses articles and contractions like do/da (de + o/a). Learn do/da with nouns: gosto do filme, gosto da comida.
Short practice drill: form sentences
Use these prompts to build simple sentences. Try writing or saying them aloud.
Prompt 1: you / like / tea -> Eu gosto de chá.
Prompt 2: she / love / music -> Ela adora música.
Prompt 3: we / prefer / night classes -> Nós preferimos aulas à noite.
Prompt 4: they / do not like / spicy food -> Eles não gostam de comida picante.
Practice resources and next steps
To improve, combine short daily practice with real content. Listen to simple songs, read menus, and mimic short dialogues. Use language apps to compare pronunciation and record yourself saying phrases like Eu gosto de praia or Eu prefiro chá.
Find a language partner or tutor to practice short exchanges where you ask and answer questions: Você gosta de…? and O que você prefere?
Conclusion
Mastering how to say what you like in Brazilian Portuguese starts with the verb gostar, correct use of de, and a few alternative verbs like adorar and preferir. Practice short, realistic sentences, learn common vocabulary, and correct typical beginner mistakes to quickly become confident in everyday conversations.
