Este prato é delicioso.

This dish is delicious.

Breakdown of Este prato é delicioso.

• ser: to be
• este: this
• delicioso: delicious
• o prato: the dish

Questions & Answers about Este prato é delicioso.

What does este mean here, and how is it different from esse and aquele?

Este is a demonstrative adjective meaning this (near the speaker).

In Brazilian Portuguese, the basic idea is:

• este / esta / estes / estas = this / these (close to the speaker)
• esse / essa / esses / essas = that / those (usually closer to the listener, or just not right next to the speaker)
• aquele / aquela / aqueles / aquelas = that / those over there (far from both speaker and listener, or more distant in time/space)

In everyday Brazilian Portuguese, people very often use esse where, in theory, este would be “correct”. For example, in speech:

• Esse prato é delicioso. – very common and natural
• Este prato é delicioso. – also correct; can sound a bit more careful or “bookish” depending on the region

So este is perfectly correct for something you’re holding or that is right in front of you, but you will frequently hear esse in the same situation in Brazil.

Why is it este and not esta?

Because prato is a masculine noun.

Demonstratives have to agree in gender and number with the noun:

• Masculine singular: este prato
• Feminine singular: esta casa (this house)
• Masculine plural: estes pratos
• Feminine plural: estas casas

So:

• Este prato é delicioso. – prato is masculine → este
• If the noun were feminine, you’d say Esta comida é deliciosa. (This food is delicious.)

Does prato mean a physical plate, or does it mean a “dish” (like a meal)?

In Portuguese, prato can mean both:

1. A physical plate (the object):

   • Lave os pratos, por favor. – Wash the plates, please.

2. A dish / course of food:

   • Este prato é delicioso. – This dish is delicious.
   • Qual é o prato do dia? – What is the dish of the day?

In your sentence, prato clearly means dish / meal, especially in a restaurant or food context.

Why is delicioso placed after prato? Can I say delicioso prato?

The normal, neutral word order in Portuguese is:

• noun + adjective → prato delicioso

So Este prato é delicioso. is the most natural way to say it.

You can put the adjective before the noun (delicioso prato), but:

• It sounds more poetic, emotional, or stylistic.
• It often adds a subjective or emphatic tone.

For example:

• Este delicioso prato me lembra a minha infância.
  (This delicious dish reminds me of my childhood.) – more expressive, “fancier” style.

In everyday speech, especially in simple sentences with ser/estar, learners are safest using the normal order:

• Este prato é delicioso.
• Este bolo é ótimo.
• Essa casa é grande.

Why is it é and not está? Could I say Este prato está delicioso?

Both é (from ser) and está (from estar) are possible, but they have slightly different nuances:

• Este prato é delicioso.
  Emphasizes that the dish is generally delicious, as a characteristic of that dish/recipe.
  → “This dish (this recipe) is delicious.”

• Este prato está delicioso.
  Emphasizes that it is delicious right now, in this specific moment or serving.
  → “This dish tastes delicious (right now).”

In real life:

• Talking about a menu item in general: Esse prato é delicioso.
• Commenting while eating right now: Esse prato está delicioso!

How do I pronounce Este prato é delicioso in Brazilian Portuguese?

A simplified pronunciation guide (Brazilian, general accent):

• Este ≈ “ESH-chee”

  • E like “eh” in “set” (a bit more closed)
  • st becomes “sh-ch” for many Brazilians: ESH-chee

• prato ≈ “PRAH-toh”

  • r is a guttural sound in many regions, a bit like the “h” in “house” but stronger
  • Stress is on PRA: PRAH-toh

• é ≈ “eh” (short, open)

• delicioso ≈ “deh-lee-see-OH-zoo”

  • de like “deh”
  • li like “lee”
  • ci = “see”
  • o (stressed) ≈ “oh”
  • final so sounds more like “zo” (voiced s between vowels)
  • Stress: de-li-ci-O-so

Put together (very roughly):
“ESH-chee PRAH-toh eh deh-lee-see-OH-zoo.”

How would I say “These dishes are delicious” using this sentence as a model?

You need to make este, prato, and delicioso all plural and keep the same agreement:

• Estes pratos são deliciosos.

Changes:

• este → estes (masculine plural demonstrative)
• prato → pratos (add -s)
• é → são (3rd person plural of ser)
• delicioso → deliciosos (masculine plural adjective)

So the pattern is:
Este prato é delicioso. → Estes pratos são deliciosos.

Can I also say Esse prato é delicioso? Is there a difference?

Yes, you can absolutely say Esse prato é delicioso, and in Brazilian Portuguese this is often more common in casual speech.

Subtle differences:

• Este prato é delicioso.
  More “by the book” for something closer to the speaker.

• Esse prato é delicioso.
  Very common; can refer to something close to the listener, or just not so strongly “near me”.

In practice, in Brazil, many speakers use esse in most situations where English would just say this/that, so you will hear Esse prato é delicioso all the time, especially in restaurants.

Why is there no article like o or um before este prato?

Demonstratives like este already specify the noun, so you do not normally add a definite or indefinite article in front of them:

• ✅ Este prato é delicioso.
• ❌ O este prato é delicioso.
• ❌ Um este prato é delicioso.

Compare:

• O prato é delicioso. – The dish is delicious. (specific dish you already know)
• Este prato é delicioso. – This dish is delicious. (pointing to one)

So you use o / a / os / as when you have just the noun, but with este / esse / aquele, you normally don’t add an article before them.

Is there a more natural way to say “The dish is delicious” if I’m not pointing to one?

Yes. If you are talking about a specific dish already known in context, and not physically indicating it, you can simply use the definite article:

• O prato é delicioso. – The dish is delicious.
• Esse prato é delicioso. – That dish is delicious. (still very common in speech)

Which one you choose depends on context:

• Menu description: O prato é delicioso. (general statement about “the dish”)
• Pointing at someone’s plate: Esse prato é delicioso. (that dish you’re eating is delicious)

How could I say “This food is delicious” instead of “This dish is delicious”?

You change the noun and adjust gender and adjective:

• Esta comida é deliciosa.

Explanation:

• comida is feminine → esta (not este)
• deliciosa agrees in gender with comida (feminine)
  → deliciosa, not delicioso

So:

• Masculine: Este prato é delicioso.
• Feminine: Esta comida é deliciosa.

What’s the difference between delicioso and gostoso?

Both are very common compliments for food:

• delicioso = delicious
  Slightly more “formal” or emphatic; used in speech and writing.
• gostoso = tasty / yummy
  Very common, slightly more informal or everyday; used a lot in spoken Brazilian Portuguese.

Examples:

• Este prato é delicioso.
• Este prato é muito gostoso.

In restaurants or on menus, you’ll see delicioso, saboroso, especial, etc. Among friends, you will hear gostoso all the time:

• Nossa, esse bolo tá muito gostoso! – Wow, this cake is really good!

How do I say “really delicious” in a natural way?

You have several options. Common and natural ones:

1. Este prato é muito gostoso.
   Very everyday and natural.

2. Este prato é muito delicioso.
   Grammatically fine, a bit more “intense”; some people might find muito delicioso a little redundant, but it is used.

3. Este prato está uma delícia.
   Very idiomatic and common: literally “This dish is a delight,” meaning “It’s really delicious right now.”

4. Esse prato é maravilhoso. – This dish is wonderful.
   Not literally “delicious”, but often used to strongly praise food.

For sounding very natural in Brazil, gostoso, uma delícia, or maravilhoso are great choices in speech.