Back to: How to Say “I Want” in Brazilian Portuguese
1. Introduction
Being able to say what you want is one of the most useful skills in a new language.
In Brazilian Portuguese, the verb querer is used to express desires, needs, and preferences.
👉 English: I want water.
👉 Portuguese: Eu quero água.
2. Verb “Querer” – To Want
Querer = to want
Used for: food, drinks, actions, objects, activities, etc.
Examples:
Eu quero viajar para o Brasil. → I want to travel to Brazil.
Ele quer aprender português. → He wants to learn Portuguese.
3. Conjugation of “Querer” (Present Tense)
| Subject | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Eu | quero | Eu quero café. (I want coffee.) |
| Você / Ele / Ela | quer | Você quer ajuda? (Do you want help?) |
| Nós | queremos | Nós queremos aprender. (We want to learn.) |
| Vocês / Eles / Elas | querem | Eles querem pizza. (They want pizza.) |
4. Everyday Examples
Eu quero um pão de queijo. → I want a cheese bread.
Você quer dançar comigo? → Do you want to dance with me?
Nós queremos descansar. → We want to rest.
Eles querem assistir ao filme. → They want to watch the movie.
5. Polite Alternatives
Brazilians often avoid saying eu quero in formal contexts (like restaurants, shops, or professional situations) because it can sound too direct. Instead, they use:
👉 Eu gostaria de… = I would like to…
Examples:
Eu gostaria de um café, por favor. → I would like a coffee, please.
Gostaria de falar com o gerente. → I would like to speak to the manager.
⚖️ Difference:
Eu quero um café. → direct, everyday use.
Eu gostaria de um café. → polite, softer.
6. Mini Dialogues
👥 Dialogue 1 – In a Café
Cliente: Eu quero um suco de laranja.
Garçom: Quer gelo?
Cliente: Não, obrigado.
👥 Dialogue 2 – With Friends
A: Você quer sair hoje?
B: Sim, eu quero ir ao cinema.
👥 Dialogue 3 – Polite Request
Cliente: Eu gostaria de pagar com cartão.
Caixa: Claro, sem problema.
7. Practice Exercises
1. Fill in the blanks:
a) Eu ______ aprender português.
b) Eles ______ jogar futebol.
c) Nós ______ café.
2. Translate into Portuguese:
a) I want a new phone.
b) She wants to dance.
c) We want to study Portuguese.
3. Create your own sentences with:
comer
viajar
aprender
8. Common Mistakes
❌ Eu gosto de café → means “I like coffee.” (not “I want coffee”).
✅ Eu quero café → “I want coffee.”
❌ Using quero in very formal contexts.
✅ Use gostaria instead.
9. Cultural Note
In Brazil, politeness matters.
With friends/family → quero is natural.
In restaurants or shops → gostaria is preferred.
10. Tips to Remember
Quero = direct, informal.
Gostaria = polite, formal.
Always conjugate querer according to the subject.
By the end of this lesson, you can confidently say what you want in Brazilian Portuguese, both in casual and polite contexts.
Take live classes on Preply with Tutor Gilberto Sapalo: https://preply.in/GILBERTO4PT19154805