Eu prefiro cozinhar em casa.

I prefer to cook at home.

Breakdown of Eu prefiro cozinhar em casa.

• eu: I
• a casa: the house
• em: at
• preferir: to prefer
• cozinhar: to cook

Questions & Answers about Eu prefiro cozinhar em casa.

Why is eu included at the beginning of the sentence?

In Portuguese, you can often omit the subject pronoun (eu, você, etc.) because the verb ending already indicates who the subject is. However, people sometimes include eu to emphasize or clarify who’s speaking, or simply out of habit. Saying Eu prefiro cozinhar em casa or just Prefiro cozinhar em casa are both correct.

Why do we say prefiro instead of prefere?

The verb preferir is irregular. In the present tense, the first-person singular (eu) conjugation is prefiro, while the third-person singular (ele/ela/você) conjugation is prefere. So, for eu, it must be prefiro.

Why do we use cozinhar and not a different verb form?

The sentence uses the infinitive form cozinhar (meaning "to cook"). After verbs of preference like preferir, the next verb is typically in the infinitive. You wouldn't say prefiro cozinho in Portuguese; you stick to prefiro cozinhar.

Why is the preposition em used with casa?

The phrase em casa literally means "at home" or "in the house." It’s a common expression in Portuguese that generally translates to "at home" in English. Saying na casa could imply a more specific house or someone else’s home. Em casa is more general and idiomatic, meaning your own place or whichever home context you’re referring to.

Do I always have to pronounce the final "r" strongly in cozinhar?

In many parts of Brazil, the final "r" in verbs can be pronounced in a softer or more guttural way, depending on regional accents. Some speakers might pronounce it lightly (almost like an “h” sound), while others might roll or trill it more strongly. Both variations are understood, so you can adapt your pronunciation to the Brazilian accent you feel most comfortable with.