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Read the dialogue
A customer arrives at her usual lanchonete. Carlinhos, the waiter, is happy to see her.
A: Ô Carlinhos, qual é o prato do dia?
Hey Carlinhos, what is the daily special?
B: Hoje tem bife à milanesa com arroz e feijão.
Today is breaded steak with rice and beans.
A: É? Como é? É bom?
Yeah? How is it? Is it good?
B: É muito bom, você quer experimentar?
It's really good — do you want to try it?
A: Obrigada, prefiro o mesmo de sempre.
Thanks, I prefer the same as always.
B: X-Bacon, batatas fritas, e um guaraná bem gelado, não é?
Cheese bacon burger, french fries, and a super cold guaraná, right?
A: É isso mesmo.
You've got it.
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Language focus
Focus 1
Preferir + substantivo
English: to prefer (something)
Preferir is a regular -ir verb with a vowel shift in the stem: the e becomes i in all forms except nós and vós. It's used followed by a noun or an infinitive.
Eu prefiro o mesmo de sempre.
I prefer the same as always. Você prefere arroz ou batatas?
Do you prefer rice or potatoes? Ela prefere comer em casa.
She prefers to eat at home. Nós preferimos o prato do dia.
We prefer the daily special.
I prefer the same as always. Você prefere arroz ou batatas?
Do you prefer rice or potatoes? Ela prefere comer em casa.
She prefers to eat at home. Nós preferimos o prato do dia.
We prefer the daily special.
Focus 2
Querer + infinitivo — offers and invitations
English: Do you want to…? / Would you like to…?
Querer + infinitivo is one of the most natural ways to offer or invite someone to try something. It's direct and friendly — much more common than the more formal gostaria de in everyday conversation.
Você quer experimentar?
Do you want to try it? Você quer tomar alguma coisa?
Do you want something to drink? Você quer ver o cardápio?
Do you want to see the menu? Você quer pedir agora?
Do you want to order now?
Do you want to try it? Você quer tomar alguma coisa?
Do you want something to drink? Você quer ver o cardápio?
Do you want to see the menu? Você quer pedir agora?
Do you want to order now?
Focus 3
Expressões e vocabulário do diálogo
Expressions & food vocabulary
These expressions and food words appear constantly in Brazilian lanchonetes, restaurantes, and everyday conversation. Learn them as ready-made chunks.
O mesmo de sempre — the usual / same as always
É isso mesmo — That's right / You've got it / Exactly
Não é? — Right? / Isn't it? (tag question, very common)
Como é? — What's it like? / How is it?
Bem gelado/a — super cold / ice cold
Bife à milanesa — breaded steak
Arroz e feijão — rice and beans (the Brazilian staple)
X-Bacon — cheese bacon burger (X = queijo, from "cheese")
Batatas fritas — french fries
Guaraná — guaraná soft drink (iconic Brazilian brand: Guaraná Antarctica)
É isso mesmo — That's right / You've got it / Exactly
Não é? — Right? / Isn't it? (tag question, very common)
Como é? — What's it like? / How is it?
Bem gelado/a — super cold / ice cold
Bife à milanesa — breaded steak
Arroz e feijão — rice and beans (the Brazilian staple)
X-Bacon — cheese bacon burger (X = queijo, from "cheese")
Batatas fritas — french fries
Guaraná — guaraná soft drink (iconic Brazilian brand: Guaraná Antarctica)
🍽 Culture note
Arroz e feijão is more than a dish — it's the backbone of the Brazilian daily meal. Most Brazilians eat it for lunch every day, often with a bife, salad, and farofa. The expression "arroz e feijão" also means something simple and reliable: "É arroz e feijão" = "It's nothing fancy."
🔊 Phonology note
The X in X-Bacon and X-Burguer is pronounced like the English "sh" — "shees" from "cheese". This is a fun example of how Brazilian Portuguese adapted English food vocabulary. You'll hear X-Salada, X-Tudo (the works!) at any lanchonete.
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Exercises
Exercise 1 — Comprehension check
Choose the correct answer based on the dialogue.
Exercise 2 — Food vocabulary
Match each Portuguese word or expression to its English meaning.
Exercise 3 — Conjugating preferir
Fill in the gap with the correct form of preferir.
1. Eu café com leite de manhã.
2. Você o prato do dia ou o cardápio normal?
3. Ele comer em casa.
4. Nós batatas fritas a arroz.
5. Elas o guaraná bem gelado.
Exercise 4 — What does it mean?
Match each expression to its English meaning.
Exercise 5 — Your turn
Imagine you are at your favorite restaurant or café. Write 4–6 sentences in Portuguese describing: what you usually order (o mesmo de sempre), what you prefer to eat or drink, and whether you would want to try the daily special today. Use preferir, querer experimentar, and at least one expression from Focus 3.
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