1
Listen to the episode
Áudio: COERLL · University of Texas at Austin · Também disponível no Apple Podcasts →
2
Read the dialogue
Two friends compare their favorite cuts of meat for a Brazilian barbecue.
A: Você gosta mais de picanha ou alcatra?
Do you like picanha or alcatra more?
B: Pessoalmente eu prefiro alcatra.
Personally I prefer alcatra.
A: Ah é, acho que a grande maioria diria que gosta mais de picanha.
Really, I believe most people would say that they like picanha more.
B: Pois é, eu tenho um gosto bem peculiar, não é?
Oh well, I have pretty peculiar tastes, right?
A: Sem dúvida. E que outros cortes você gosta?
No doubt. And what other cuts do you like?
B: Pra mim, bom, com a fraldinha não tem erro.
For me, well, with a fraldinha you can't go wrong.
3
Language focus
Focus 1
Gostar mais de X (ou Y)
English: to like X more, to prefer X (over Y)
To compare two preferences directly, use gostar mais de + noun: "Você gosta mais de picanha ou alcatra?" = "Do you like picanha or alcatra more?" It's a natural, everyday alternative to preferir.
Você gosta mais de picanha ou alcatra?
Do you like picanha or alcatra more? Eu gosto mais de carne do que de peixe.
I like meat more than fish.
Do you like picanha or alcatra more? Eu gosto mais de carne do que de peixe.
I like meat more than fish.
Focus 2
Diria que... — condicional de dizer
English: would say that... (hypothetical opinion)
Diria (condicional of dizer) reports a hypothetical opinion or prediction — what someone would say, without stating it as fact: "a grande maioria diria que gosta mais de picanha" = "most people would say they like picanha more."
Acho que a maioria diria que prefere picanha.
I think most people would say they prefer picanha. Eu diria que ele tem razão.
I would say he's right.
I think most people would say they prefer picanha. Eu diria que ele tem razão.
I would say he's right.
Focus 3
Vocabulário do churrasco & "não tem erro"
Churrasco cuts of meat + a reassuring idiom
Não tem erro is a fixed expression meaning "you can't go wrong" — used to reassure someone that a choice is reliably good.
Picanha — top sirloin cap (Brazil's most famous churrasco cut)
Alcatra — rump steak
Fraldinha — flank steak
Corte — cut (of meat)
Churrasco — barbecue
Com a fraldinha, não tem erro.
With the fraldinha, you can't go wrong.
Alcatra — rump steak
Fraldinha — flank steak
Corte — cut (of meat)
Churrasco — barbecue
Com a fraldinha, não tem erro.
With the fraldinha, you can't go wrong.
🥩 Culture note
Brazilian churrasco is famous worldwide, especially for its seasoning with coarse sea salt and its distinctive cuts like picanha. But as this dialogue shows, not every Brazilian agrees that picanha is the best cut — tastes vary!
🔊 Phonology note
Notice the nasal diphthong in não — it's produced through the nose, unlike English "now." Practice keeping the sound nasal all the way through, without a hard "n" at the end.
4
Exercises
Exercise 1 — Comprehension check
Choose the correct answer based on the dialogue.
Exercise 2 — Gostar mais de, diria, ou não tem erro?
Fill in each gap to complete the sentence with the correct pattern.
1. Você gosta de carne ou peixe?
2. Eu que ele tem razão. (dizer, condicional)
3. Acho que a maioria que prefere picanha. (dizer, condicional)
4. Com a fraldinha, .
5. Nesse restaurante, — a comida é sempre boa.
Exercise 3 — Vocabulário do churrasco
Match each Portuguese word to its English meaning.
Exercise 4 — Your turn
Write 4–6 sentences in Portuguese about your food preferences. Use gostar mais de to compare two foods, diria que for a hypothetical opinion, and end with não tem erro to recommend something.
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