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Eu prefiro um hotel próximo do mar.

Eu prefiro um hotel próximo do mar.
I prefer a hotel near the sea.
FromLesson 6inHardcore Portuguese (Brazil)

Breakdown of Eu prefiro um hotel próximo do mar.

eu
I
um
a
preferir
to prefer
próximo
near
do
of the
o mar
the sea
o hotel
the hotel
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Questions & Answers about Eu prefiro um hotel próximo do mar.

Why is it do mar instead of da mar?
In Portuguese, mar is a masculine noun, so "do" is the contraction of "de + o" (meaning "of the" in English). If it were a feminine noun, you would use "da" (contraction of "de + a").
Is there a difference between saying Eu prefiro and just Prefiro?
In Portuguese, you can omit the subject pronoun eu because the verb form already indicates who is speaking. Adding eu can give extra emphasis or clarity, but both forms are grammatically correct and commonly used.
What is the difference between próximo do mar and perto do mar?
Both mean "close to the sea," but próximo can sound slightly more formal or precise. Perto is more commonly used in everyday speech. They are interchangeable in most informal contexts.
Why do we say um hotel here, not o hotel?
We use the indefinite article um because we are not specifying a particular hotel. We’re talking about any hotel that is close to the sea, not a specific one.
Can I say Eu prefiro um hotel próximo da praia instead?
Yes, you can. Praia (beach) is a feminine noun, so you would say próximo da praia (using "da" = "de + a"). It means essentially the same thing—expressing a preference for a hotel near the beach.