Introduction
Learning how to express preference is essential for everyday conversation in Brazilian Portuguese. This article explains common ways to say I prefer this one, shows polite variations, compares similar phrases, and provides natural dialogues you can use in shops, restaurants, and with friends.
- Basic ways to say I prefer this one
- Common short, natural phrases
- Demonstratives: este, esse, aquele
- Formal vs informal ways to express preference
- Comparing items: I prefer this one to that one
- Polite refusal with preference
- Expressing preference in food and restaurants
- Short dialogues for real-life practice
- Expressing stronger preference or commitment
- Common mistakes to avoid
- Quick reference phrases
- Conclusion
Basic ways to say I prefer this one
The simplest and most direct phrase is Eu prefiro este for masculine items and Eu prefiro esta for feminine items. Use these when you want to state a clear preference for a specific object or option.
Examples:
Eu prefiro este vestido.
Eu prefiro esta camisa.
Notes on gender and demonstratives
Brazilian Portuguese uses gendered demonstratives. Use este and esta when the object is close to the speaker. If the item is closer to the listener or farther away, alternatives exist (see the next section). The verb preferir follows regular conjugation patterns for irregular verbs in the present, but the important part for beginners is matching the demonstrative to the noun gender.
Common short, natural phrases
Instead of the full Eu prefiro este/esta, Brazilians often use shorter, more casual expressions. These are useful in shops, markets, or when choosing between options.
Eu fico com este / Eu fico com esta — I will take this one or I’ll go with this one.
Gosto mais deste / Gosto mais desta — I like this one more.
Prefiro este/esta mesmo — I prefer this one, for sure.
Examples:
Eu fico com este, por favor.
Gosto mais desta cor.
Usage notes: tone and formality
Eu fico com este/esta is casual and polite when speaking to salespeople. Gosto mais deste/desta centers on liking rather than stating a firm decision. Prefiro este/esta mesmo adds emphasis and can sound a bit more definite or colloquial depending on intonation.
Demonstratives: este, esse, aquele
Choosing between este, esse, and aquele affects meaning. Use este for things near the speaker, esse for things near the listener or previously mentioned, and aquele for things far from both or more distant in context.
Examples:
Este é mais barato, então eu prefiro este.
Você prefere esse ou este?
Aquele parece confortável, mas eu prefiro este.
Practical tip
When pointing or holding an item, use este or esta. When reacting to what someone else is holding, use esse or essa. If referring to a third option across the room, use aquele or aquela.
Formal vs informal ways to express preference
For more formal situations, like work conversations or polite settings, stick with full phrases and polite constructions. For friends or family, short forms are natural.
Formal: Eu prefiro esta opção.
Informal: Prefiro esta.
Politeness markers
Add por favor to be polite when making a choice in a service setting. Use com licença to get someone’s attention first. To sound more tentative, use acho que prefiro este which means I think I prefer this one.
Examples:
Com licença, eu prefiro esta, por favor.
Acho que prefiro este, mas posso experimentar o outro?
Comparing items: I prefer this one to that one
To explicitly compare two options, use a structure with a comparative. The phrase eu prefiro este ao outro or eu prefiro este em vez daquele are common.
Eu prefiro este ao outro — I prefer this one to the other.
Eu prefiro esta em vez daquela — I prefer this one instead of that one.
Examples:
Eu prefiro este ao outro porque é mais leve.
Eu prefiro esta em vez daquela por causa da cor.
Natural alternatives
Você pode dizer also gosto mais deste que daquele which literally means I like this one more than that one. This is very natural in spoken Brazilian Portuguese.
Examples:
Gosto mais deste que daquele — é mais confortável.
Polite refusal with preference
Sometimes you must refuse an offered item but want to remain polite. Combine preference with a softener.
Não, obrigada, eu prefiro este — polite for women. Não, obrigado, eu prefiro este — polite for men. Use the gendered form of obrigado when appropriate.
Examples:
Não, obrigada, eu prefiro esta aqui.
Não, obrigado, eu prefiro este.
Usage note: obrigada vs obrigado
In Brazilian Portuguese, women say obrigada and men say obrigado. This affects how you politely refuse or accept things with thanks.
Expressing preference in food and restaurants
When ordering food, you can use prefiro, quero, or vou querer to indicate choice. Prefiro is slightly more about preference than the immediate action.
Examples:
Eu prefiro o prato do dia.
Prefiro a salada com molho à parte.
Eu vou querer este aqui.
Ordering politely
To be polite: Eu vou querer esta, por favor or Se possível, eu prefiro sem cebola. These are common when you have a dietary preference or need a small modification.
Short dialogues for real-life practice
Below are brief conversations you might hear or use. They show natural ways Brazilians express preference.
Shop scenario:
Vendedor: Qual você prefere?
Cliente: Eu prefiro este.
Vendedor: Quer levar em embalagem de presente?
Cliente: Sim, por favor.
Restaurant scenario:
Garçom: Você quer o arroz branco ou integral?
Cliente: Gosto mais do integral.
Garçom: Tudo bem, vou trazer.
Friends choosing a movie:
Amigo A: Esse ou aquele?
Amigo B: Prefiro esse, parece mais engraçado.
Notes on contraction and casual speech
In everyday speech, people may drop subject pronouns and use contracted forms. Instead of eu prefiro, many simply say prefiro. Instead of eu vou querer, you’ll hear vou querer. This is normal and natural in spoken Brazilian Portuguese.
Expressing stronger preference or commitment
To show a stronger, more committed preference use phrases like definitivamente prefiro este, com certeza prefiro esta, or sem dúvida prefiro este. These add emphasis and can be used when you want to be clear and decisive.
Examples:
Definitivamente prefiro este.
Sem dúvida prefiro esta cor.
Softening a strong preference
If you want to avoid sounding rude, even when you have a strong preference, add a softener like talvez, acho que, or se possível. For example, acho que definitivamente prefiro este, se não for um problema. This keeps the tone friendly.
Common mistakes to avoid
Mistake 1: Mixing demonstrative gender with noun gender. Remember to match este/esta to the noun: este carro, esta bolsa. Mistake 2: Using the wrong demonstrative. If the listener holds the item, prefer esse/essa. Mistake 3: Omitting polite markers in service contexts. Adding por favor and obrigado/obrigada is customary.
Examples of correct use:
Eu prefiro este sapato.
Gosto mais dessa blusa.
Não, obrigada, eu prefiro esta.
Quick reference phrases
Eu prefiro este / Eu prefiro esta — I prefer this one.
Prefiro este / Prefiro esta — I prefer this one (short).
Eu fico com este / Eu fico com esta — I’ll go with this one.
Gosto mais deste / Gosto mais desta — I like this one more.
Eu prefiro este ao outro — I prefer this one to the other.
Pronunciation tips
Preferir is pronounced roughly preh-feh-REER in Brazilian Portuguese, with stress on the last syllable. Este is EH-stee, esta is EH-sta. Esse is EH-see and aquele is ah-KEH-lee. Listening to native speakers and repeating will help with natural intonation and rhythm.
Conclusion
Mastering how to say I prefer this one in Brazilian Portuguese requires attention to demonstrative gender, context, and tone. Use Eu prefiro este/Eu prefiro esta for clear statements, shorter forms like prefiro este or eu fico com esta in casual speech, and polite additions like por favor and obrigado/obrigada in service settings. Practice with the dialogue examples to internalize natural usage.
