Introduction
Learning to say simple opinions is one of the first and most useful steps in Brazilian Portuguese. This article explains natural, beginner-friendly ways to say I like this word and related phrases. You will get vocabulary, example sentences, pronunciation tips, common mistakes, and short practice dialogues to use in real situations.
- Basic phrase: how to say I like this word
- When to use desta vs dessa vs daquela
- Useful vocabulary related to liking words
- Short practice dialogues
- Practical examples for signs, menus, messages
- Common mistakes and how to avoid them
- Simple exercises for practice
- Useful mini-list of example sentences
- Conclusion
Basic phrase: how to say I like this word
The most direct and natural way to say I like this word in Brazilian Portuguese is Eu gosto desta palavra.
Breakdown:
Eu means I.
gosto is the present tense of gostar, to like.
desta is a contraction of de + esta, meaning of this (feminine).
palavra means word.
Note that in everyday speech Brazilians often drop the subject pronoun because the verb form already indicates who is speaking, so you may hear Gosto desta palavra or even more casually Gosto dessa palavra.
Variants you should know
Here are common natural variants you will encounter in conversation and text. Each uses Brazilian Portuguese forms and patterns a beginner will recognize.
Gosto desta palavra — I like this word (formal, points to something nearby).
Gosto dessa palavra — I like that word (less formal, commonly used).
Eu gosto dessa palavra — I like that word (adds pronoun for clarity or emphasis).
Adoro essa palavra — I love this/that word (adorar is stronger than gostar).
Essa palavra é legal — This/That word is cool (colloquial, very common).
When to use desta vs dessa vs daquela
Understanding de + demonstrative is important. Use dela for feminine nouns and dele for masculine, but with demonstratives the common choices are:
desta (de + esta) — this, referring to something close in time or space.
dessa (de + essa) — that, used much in spoken Brazilian Portuguese to refer to something mentioned or not physically near.
daquela (de + aquela) — that over there, more distant or to emphasize contrast.
Examples:
Gosto desta palavra quando eu a escuto na aula.
Gosto dessa palavra porque é simples.
Não gosto daquela palavra — parece antiquada.
Useful vocabulary related to liking words
Below are common words and short phrases you will use when talking about words and language in Brazilian Portuguese.
palavra — word
gostar — to like
adorar — to love/adore
achei — I found (used to express opinion: achei interessante = I found it interesting)
legal — cool/nice
bonito/bonita — beautiful/nice (masc/fem)
estranho — strange
comum — common
Pronunciation tips for beginners
Simple tips to pronounce the key phrase naturally:
Gosto — pronounce GOH-stoo. The o in the first syllable sounds like the o in go. The final o is reduced to an unstressed u sound.
Essa/dessa/desta — the e at the start sounds like eh. In fast speech dessa and dessa often sound like deh-sah.
Palavra — pa-LAH-vra. Stress on the second syllable; the r between vowels is pronounced like a soft d or guttural depending on accent, but beginners can use a soft r similar to English d in ladder.
Short practice dialogues
These mini-dialogues are realistic and useful for language class, chat with a language partner, or messaging apps.
Dialogue 1 — In class:
– Professor: Qual palavra vocês mais gostaram?
– Student: Gosto dessa palavra, professor. É fácil de lembrar.
Dialogue 2 — Messaging:
– Maria: Achei uma palavra nova: saudade.
– João: Eu adoro essa palavra. É bonita.
Dialogue 3 — At a bookstore:
– Vendedor: Esse livro tem muitas palavras difíceis.
– Cliente: Gosto desta palavra aqui, mas não entendo o significado.
Practical examples for signs, menus, messages
These short phrases show how you might see or use the vocabulary in everyday life.
No cardápio: Palavra do dia — hoje: esperança
Em um aplicativo de idioma: Favoritos — palavras que eu gosto
Em uma nota: Adorei essa palavra, vou usar amanhã
How to express stronger or weaker feelings
Beginners should learn a range of intensity words so they can be more precise.
Stronger:
Adoro essa palavra — I love this/that word.
Gosto muito dessa palavra — I like this/that word a lot.
Weaker / neutral:
Gosto mais dessa palavra do que daquela — I prefer this/that word over that one.
Não gosto muito dessa palavra — I don’t like this/that word much.
Common mistakes and how to avoid them
Beginner learners often make predictable errors. Here are the most frequent ones and clear corrections.
Mistake: Using masculine demonstrative with palavra. Correct: palavra is feminine, so use essa/desta/daquela not esse/deste/daquele.
Mistake: Literal word order from English, e.g., Eu gosto palavra esta. Correct: Eu gosto desta palavra or Gosto dessa palavra.
Mistake: Overusing Eu. Brazilians often drop the pronoun when context is clear. Both Eu gosto and Gosto are correct; pick what sounds natural in the context.
Quick grammar note: gostar + object
Unlike English, Portuguese uses prepositions with some verbs. For gostar, the structure is gostar de + noun or verb.
Correct: Eu gosto desta palavra. (gostar de + esta palavra)
Incorrect: Eu gosto esta palavra. (missing de)
If you like doing something, use gostar de + infinitive: Gosto de estudar palavras novas.
Simple exercises for practice
Try these short, realistic tasks to make the phrase natural for you.
1. Flashcard drill: Write Eu gosto desta palavra on one side and the breakdown on the other. Practice aloud 10 times.
2. Replace the noun: Use the phrase with other feminine nouns to practice desta/dessa: Gosto desta música, Gosto dessa frase, Gosto desta lista.
3. Messaging practice: Send a short message to a language partner using Adoro essa palavra followed by a reason.
How to answer when someone asks if you like a word
Short, natural replies:
Sim, gosto dessa palavra. — Yes, I like that word.
Não muito. — Not really / not much.
Adoro! — Love it!
Prefiro outra. — I prefer another one.
Useful mini-list of example sentences
Each sentence is short and practical for beginners to memorize and use.
Gosto dessa palavra porque é fácil de pronunciar.
Adoro essa palavra, ela tem um som bonito.
Não gosto dessa palavra, soa estranha para mim.
Gosto mais dessa palavra do que daquela.
Você gosta dessa palavra? Sim, eu gosto.
Tips to sound more natural
Small adjustments make you sound closer to a native speaker.
Use gosto without Eu in informal speech: Gosto dessa palavra.
Choose dessa for many contexts; Brazilians use it frequently and it sounds natural.
Use fillers and short responses: Ah, legal! or Que bonita! after someone shows a word you like.
Conclusion
Mastering how to say I like this word in Brazilian Portuguese gives you a useful tool for everyday conversations. Start with Eu gosto desta palavra, learn the natural variants gosto dessa palavra and adoro essa palavra, practice pronunciation, and try the short dialogues and exercises. With these beginner-friendly examples you will be ready to express opinions about words confidently in real situations.
