Likes and dislikes appear quickly in everyday conversation. They help people talk about food, music, television, travel, work and how they prefer to spend their time.
In Brazilian Portuguese, the central expression is gostar de. Unlike Spanish gustar or Italian piacere, it works much like a normal verb: the person who likes something is the subject. The small word de, however, is an essential part of the expression and normally stays before the thing or activity that follows.
Asking what someone likes to do
O que você gosta de fazer?
Natural translation: What do you like to do?
Pronunciation: oo kee vo-SEH GOS-tah djee fah-ZEHR
Word for word: O que = what · você = you · gosta = like · de = of/to · fazer = to do
This is a broad question about interests and free time. Você is the everyday singular “you” across most of Brazil, and the verb takes the third-person form gosta.
The structure is:
gostar de + infinitive
The infinitive names the activity: fazer (to do), ler (to read), ouvir (to listen) or viajar (to travel). The de belongs to gostar, even though the natural English translation contains no “of.”
In fast Brazilian speech, unstressed de is often pronounced approximately “djee,” especially in many widely heard southeastern accents. The exact sound varies by region.
Gosto de followed by an activity
Eu gosto de caminhar.
Natural translation: I like to walk. / I like walking.
Pronunciation: eh-oo GOS-too djee kah-mee-NYAR
Word for word: Eu = I · gosto = like · de = of/to · caminhar = to walk
With eu, the verb becomes gosto. The final -o is normally a short “oo” sound in Brazilian Portuguese, so gosto is closer to “GOS-too” than English spelling might suggest.
Portuguese keeps the following verb in the infinitive. This allows many activities to fit the same frame:
Eu gosto de ler livros.
Natural translation: I like to read books. / I like reading books.
Pronunciation: eh-oo GOS-too djee lehr LEE-vroos
Eu gosto de ouvir música.
Natural translation: I like to listen to music.
Pronunciation: eh-oo GOS-too djee oh-VEER MOO-zee-kah
Eu gosto de nadar.
Natural translation: I like swimming.
Pronunciation: eh-oo GOS-too djee nah-DAR
Eu gosto de dormir muito.
Natural translation: I like to sleep a lot.
Pronunciation: eh-oo GOS-too djee dor-MEER MWEEN-too
In everyday conversation, Brazilian speakers often omit eu when the verb form and context already identify the speaker:
Gosto de ler. — I like reading.
Both versions are natural. Including eu can add clarity or contrast, while the shorter version is common when the subject is obvious.
Likes connected to everyday life
Eu gosto de passar um tempo com amigos.
Natural translation: I like spending time with friends.
Pronunciation: eh-oo GOS-too djee pah-SAR oong TEM-poo kong ah-MEE-goos
Word for word: Eu = I · gosto de = like · passar = to spend/pass · um tempo = some time · com amigos = with friends
The phrase passar um tempo com alguém means “to spend some time with someone.” In a general statement, com amigos can appear without an article.
Eu gosto de passar um tempo com a família.
Natural translation: I like spending time with family.
Pronunciation: eh-oo GOS-too djee pah-SAR oong TEM-poo kong ah fah-MEE-lyah
Here Portuguese uses com a família, literally “with the family.” This is a natural way to refer to one’s family without adding minha.
Eu gosto de viajar.
Natural translation: I like to travel. / I like travelling.
Pronunciation: eh-oo GOS-too djee vee-ah-ZHAR
Word for word: Eu = I · gosto de = like · viajar = to travel
In much of Brazil, the j in viajar sounds like the s in English “measure.” The final r may sound like a light English h, although pronunciation varies by region.
Liking a thing
Eu gosto de pizza.
Natural translation: I like pizza.
Pronunciation: eh-oo GOS-too djee PEET-sah
Word for word: Eu = I · gosto = like · de = of · pizza = pizza
The pattern stays gostar de, whether the next element is an activity or a thing:
- Gosto de ler. — I like reading.
- Gosto de pizza. — I like pizza.
- Gosto de música. — I like music.
When speaking generally about pizza, coffee, music or another broad category, Portuguese often uses the noun without an article after gostar de.
With a specific item, an article or demonstrative may appear. Gosto desta pizza means “I like this pizza.” Here de + esta contracts to desta.
The de in gostar de changes shape
The preposition de may combine with an article:
- de + o = do
- de + a = da
- de + os = dos
- de + as = das
This is why Brazilian Portuguese can say:
- Gosto do café deste lugar. — I like the coffee here.
- Gosto da música. — I like the music.
- Gosto dos livros. — I like the books.
- Gosto das flores. — I like the flowers.
These supplementary examples refer to more specific things than the general Eu gosto de pizza. The contraction is not optional when both de and the definite article are needed.
Asking about food preferences
O que você gosta de comer?
Natural translation: What do you like to eat?
Pronunciation: oo kee vo-SEH GOS-tah djee ko-MEHR
Word for word: O que = what · você = you · gosta de = like · comer = to eat
This question keeps the broad structure O que você gosta de…? and changes only the final activity from fazer to comer.
Possible answers do not need to be long:
- Gosto de pizza. — I like pizza.
- Gosto de comida italiana. — I like Italian food.
- Gosto de frutas. — I like fruit.
- Gosto de pratos apimentados. — I like spicy dishes.
The additional answers use the same structure as the recorded phrase but do not have separate audio in this article.
Saying that you do not like something
Eu não gosto de café.
Natural translation: I don’t like coffee.
Pronunciation: eh-oo nowng GOS-too djee kah-FEH
Word for word: Eu = I · não = not · gosto de = like · café = coffee
To make gosto negative, place não directly before it. The nasal vowel in não has no exact English equivalent; air passes through the nose, and the word should not be pronounced like English “now.”
For a softer opinion, Portuguese can use:
- Não gosto muito de café. — I don’t like coffee very much.
- Não sou muito fã de café. — I’m not a big fan of coffee.
- Não é muito a minha praia. — It’s not really my thing. (informal)
These supplementary alternatives are useful when não gosto feels too direct. Não é a minha praia is a conversational Brazilian expression and should be reserved for informal situations.
A stronger dislike
Eu odeio queijo.
Natural translation: I hate cheese.
Pronunciation: eh-oo oh-DAY-oo KAY-zhoo
Word for word: Eu = I · odeio = hate · queijo = cheese
Odeio is much stronger than não gosto de. It can sound emphatic when used about food, entertainment or an everyday inconvenience.
Unlike gostar, odiar does not require de:
- Eu gosto de queijo. — I like cheese.
- Eu odeio queijo. — I hate cheese.
The same contrast appears in another recorded phrase:
Eu odeio o meu emprego.
Natural translation: I hate my job.
Pronunciation: eh-oo oh-DAY-oo oo meh-oo em-PREH-goo
This is a strong personal statement. Não gosto muito do meu emprego—“I don’t like my job very much”—is less forceful. Notice do in the softer version: de + o meu emprego.
Talking about another person’s preferences
Ele não gosta de assistir TV.
Natural translation: He doesn’t like watching television.
Pronunciation: EH-lee nowng GOS-tah djee ah-sees-TEER teh-VEH
Word for word: Ele = he · não = not · gosta de = likes · assistir TV = to watch television
The verb changes from eu gosto to ele gosta. The person who experiences the preference remains the grammatical subject, so the pattern is straightforward:
- eu gosto — I like
- você gosta — you like
- ele gosta — he likes
- ela gosta — she likes
- eles/elas gostam — they like
Ela gosta do emprego dela.
Natural translation: She likes her job.
Pronunciation: EH-lah GOS-tah doo em-PREH-goo DEH-lah
Word for word: Ela = she · gosta do = likes the · emprego = job · dela = of her/hers
Dela literally means “of her” and makes the owner clear. Portuguese also has seu/sua, but those forms can refer to “your,” “his” or “her” depending on the context. O emprego dela avoids that ambiguity.
Asking whether someone likes a particular item
Você gosta deste?
Natural translation: Do you like this one?
Pronunciation: vo-SEH GOS-tah DES-chee
Word for word: Você = you · gosta = like · deste = of this one
This question can be used while looking at clothes or comparing objects. Deste combines de + este, because gostar requires de.
The ending agrees with the item:
- Você gosta deste? — Do you like this one? (masculine)
- Você gosta desta? — Do you like this one? (feminine)
- Você gosta destes? — Do you like these? (masculine or mixed)
- Você gosta destas? — Do you like these? (feminine)
The first form is the recorded phrase. The remaining forms are supplementary variations.
Você, tu and more formal address
Brazilian Portuguese does not have one simple nationwide division between informal and formal “you.” Você is the normal everyday form in much of Brazil. In some regions, tu is common, sometimes with traditional tu gostas and sometimes with the third-person tu gosta in informal local speech.
For clearly respectful address, especially in customer service or when speaking to an older person, o senhor or a senhora may be used:
- O que o senhor gosta de fazer? — What do you like to do, sir?
- A senhora gosta deste? — Do you like this one, ma’am?
These respectful versions can sound more formal than English “you.” In many ordinary interactions, você remains appropriate without being rude.
The main recordings in this article use você, reflecting widely understood contemporary Brazilian usage.
Expressing a preference with preferir
Você prefere chá ou café?
Natural translation: Do you prefer tea or coffee?
Pronunciation: vo-SEH preh-FEH-ree shah oh kah-FEH
Word for word: Você = you · prefere = prefer · chá = tea · ou = or · café = coffee
Unlike gostar, preferir does not take de before a simple noun in this structure.
Eu prefiro café preto.
Natural translation: I prefer black coffee.
Pronunciation: eh-oo preh-FEE-roo kah-FEH PREH-too
Word for word: Eu = I · prefiro = prefer · café = coffee · preto = black
The stress shifts between prefere and prefiro. Comparing the two recordings makes this easier to hear.
Preference can also describe an activity:
Eu prefiro ficar em casa.
Natural translation: I prefer to stay at home.
Pronunciation: eh-oo preh-FEE-roo fee-KAR eng KAH-zah
Portuguese uses the infinitive ficar after prefiro. The phrase can answer a question about going out without sounding as strong as saying that you dislike going out.
Saying what you like most
Quais matérias você mais gosta na escola?
Natural translation: Which subjects do you like most at school?
Pronunciation: kwize mah-TEH-ree-ahs vo-SEH mice GOS-tah nah es-KOH-lah
Word for word: Quais matérias = which subjects · você = you · mais = most · gosta = like · na escola = at school
This recorded phrase omits de before the thing liked, a pattern that occurs colloquially in some Brazilian usage. In more carefully edited standard Portuguese, many speakers would say:
De quais matérias você mais gosta na escola?
Both versions are readily understood. The version with initial de makes the connection to gostar de explicit.
Gosto mais de matemática e ciência.
Natural translation: I like mathematics and science the most.
Pronunciation: GOS-too mice djee mah-teh-MAH-chee-kah ee see-EN-syah
Word for word: Gosto = I like · mais = more/most · de = of · matemática = mathematics · e = and · ciência = science
Gosto mais de… can mean either “I like … more” or “I like … the most,” depending on what is being compared.
Talking about favourites
É meu prato preferido.
Natural translation: It’s my favourite dish.
Pronunciation: eh meh-oo PRAH-too preh-feh-REE-doo
Word for word: É = it is · meu = my · prato = dish · preferido = favourite/preferred
Brazilian Portuguese commonly uses both preferido and favorito for “favourite.” Preferido is closely related to preferir.
The ending agrees with the noun:
- meu prato preferido — my favourite dish
- minha comida preferida — my favourite food
- meu filme favorito — my favourite film
- minha música favorita — my favourite song
Another recorded phrase uses the feminine form:
É minha estação preferida.
Natural translation: It’s my favourite season.
Pronunciation: eh MEE-nyah es-tah-SOWN preh-feh-REE-dah
Likes in conversations about television
Gosto de assistir a programas de TV baseados em histórias reais.
Natural translation: I like watching television programmes based on true stories.
Pronunciation: GOS-too djee ah-sees-TEER ah proh-GRAH-mahs djee teh-VEH bah-ZEAH-doos eng ees-TOH-ree-ahs heh-EYES
Word for word: Gosto de = I like · assistir a = to watch · programas de TV = TV programmes · baseados em = based on · histórias reais = true stories
The longer phrase shows that gostar de can introduce a detailed activity, not only a single verb. The subject eu is omitted because gosto already identifies the speaker.
Cá entre nós, gosto de assistir comédias românticas na TV.
Natural translation: Between you and me, I like watching romantic comedies on TV.
Pronunciation: kah EN-tree nohs, GOS-too djee ah-sees-TEER koh-MEH-djahs hoh-MAHN-chee-kahs nah teh-VEH
Cá entre nós introduces something slightly private, playful or confidential. It is close to “between you and me” or “just between us.”
Liking cooking—and adding a contrast
Você gosta de cozinhar?
Natural translation: Do you like cooking?
Pronunciation: vo-SEH GOS-tah djee koh-zee-NYAR
Word for word: Você = you · gosta de = like · cozinhar = to cook
Gosto de cozinhar, mas não sou boa nisso.
Natural translation: I like cooking, but I’m not good at it. (female speaker)
Pronunciation: GOS-too djee koh-zee-NYAR, mahs nowng soh BOH-ah NEE-soo
Word for word: Gosto de = I like · cozinhar = to cook · mas = but · não sou = I am not · boa = good · nisso = at/in that
The adjective boa shows that the recorded speaker is female. A male speaker would say não sou bom nisso.
The sentence is also a useful reminder that liking an activity and being skilled at it are separate ideas. Mas connects them naturally without requiring two unrelated statements.
Liking someone’s idea or way of thinking
Gosto da forma como você pensa!
Natural translation: I like the way you think!
Pronunciation: GOS-too dah FOR-mah KOH-moo vo-SEH PEN-sah
Word for word: Gosto da = I like the · forma = way/form · como = how · você pensa = you think
Here de + a forma becomes da forma. The phrase expresses approval of an idea, decision or approach rather than a general personal preference.
It can be warmer than simply saying Concordo—“I agree”—because it compliments the other person’s reasoning.
A natural range of preference
Every opinion does not need to be reduced to “like” or “hate.” Brazilian Portuguese offers a useful scale:
- Adoro. — I love it.
- Gosto muito. — I like it a lot.
- Gosto. — I like it.
- É bom. — It’s good.
- Tanto faz. — Either way / I don’t mind.
- Não gosto muito. — I don’t like it very much.
- Não gosto. — I don’t like it.
- Odeio. — I hate it.
These short supplementary expressions help match the strength of the language to the real opinion. Adoro is common and enthusiastic, while odeio is deliberately strong. Tanto faz expresses indifference rather than dislike and can sound abrupt if the tone is impatient.
When the topic is already clear, the object does not need to be repeated. A question such as Você gosta de café? can receive the simple answer Gosto, Não gosto or Adoro.
A short everyday exchange
Person 1: O que você gosta de fazer? Person 2: Gosto de ler e ouvir música. E você? Person 1: Eu gosto de cozinhar, mas prefiro ficar em casa. Person 2: Eu também. Não gosto muito de sair.
Natural translation:
Person 1: What do you like to do? Person 2: I like reading and listening to music. And you? Person 1: I like cooking, but I prefer staying at home. Person 2: Me too. I don’t like going out very much.
The exchange combines recorded structures with small, natural extensions. It moves from a broad question to specific activities, preference and a softened dislike.
The useful patterns behind everyday preferences
The most important pattern is gostar de. The verb changes according to the person—eu gosto, você gosta, eles gostam—while de connects it to an activity or thing. Articles can cause de to contract into do, da, dos or das.
Não makes the preference negative, odiar expresses a much stronger reaction, and preferir compares alternatives. Words such as preferido and favorito make it possible to identify a favourite without rebuilding the idea from the verb.
Learning these expressions inside complete phrases preserves the prepositions, contractions, verb forms and natural rhythm needed in conversation. It also provides structures that can be extended with the foods, activities and interests that matter to you.
Hear Likes and Dislikes in Complete Brazilian Portuguese Phrases
The main examples in this article are taken from the LinguaBoost Brazilian Portuguese course and recorded by a native Brazilian Portuguese speaker.
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