Eu prefiro a carne sem pimenta.

Yes. In Brazilian Portuguese, eu is often optional because the verb form prefiro already shows that the subject is I.

• Eu prefiro a carne sem pimenta.
• Prefiro a carne sem pimenta.

Both are natural. Including eu can add emphasis, contrast, or clarity.

Prefiro is the I form of the verb preferir, which means to prefer.

Present tense of preferir:

• eu prefiro = I prefer
• você/ele/ela prefere = you/he/she prefers
• nós preferimos = we prefer
• vocês/eles/elas preferem = you/they prefer

So prefiro is not an infinitive; it is a conjugated verb.

Portuguese often uses definite articles more than English does. So a carne literally means the meat, but in many contexts it can sound natural where English would simply say meat.

Here, a carne can mean:

• meat in general, depending on context
• a specific serving or dish of meat

Using the article is very common and natural in Portuguese.

Because carne is a feminine noun in Portuguese.

• a carne = the meat
• uma carne = a meat / a kind of meat

This grammatical gender does not mean the meat is female; it is just a feature of the noun in the language.

Sem means without.

In Portuguese, sem is a preposition, and it normally comes directly before the thing being left out:

• sem pimenta = without pepper
• sem açúcar = without sugar
• sem sal = without salt

So sem pimenta is the natural order.

Because in this sentence pimenta is being used in a general sense, not referring to one specific pepper or pepper sauce already identified in the conversation.

• sem pimenta = without pepper / without chili
• sem a pimenta would usually mean without the pepper or without that specific pepper, which is much more specific and less likely here.

Portuguese often leaves out the article after sem when speaking generally.

It can mean different kinds of pepper, depending on context. In Brazilian Portuguese, pimenta often makes learners think of chili pepper or spicy pepper, but it can also be part of more specific expressions.

For example:

• pimenta-do-reino = black pepper
• pimenta malagueta = a type of chili pepper

In sem pimenta, the most likely idea is without spicy pepper or without pepper seasoning, depending on the food and situation.

Because a carne sem pimenta is the normal, straightforward order in Portuguese: noun first, then the modifying phrase.

• a carne sem pimenta = the meat without pepper

The phrase sem pimenta describes a carne. Putting sem pimenta first would sound marked or poetic in many situations, not the most basic everyday order.

Yes, but it does not mean exactly the same thing.

• Eu prefiro a carne sem pimenta = I prefer meat without pepper.
• Eu gosto mais da carne sem pimenta = I like meat without pepper more.

Preferir directly expresses preference and is usually the best match for prefer in English. Gostar mais de is possible, but it is a different structure and can sound a bit less direct.

Not in the same way. Portuguese often uses preferir directly with what is preferred, and if you compare two things, you commonly use a.

Examples:

• Prefiro a carne sem pimenta. = I prefer meat without pepper.
• Prefiro carne a peixe. = I prefer meat to fish.
• Prefiro chá a café. = I prefer tea to coffee.

So with comparisons, Portuguese often uses a, not de.

Yes, it is natural. A Brazilian might also say:

• Prefiro carne sem pimenta.
• Eu prefiro carne sem pimenta.
• Prefiro a carne sem pimenta.

All of these are possible. The version with a carne sounds perfectly normal, especially if talking about a dish or a serving of meat.

In Brazilian Portuguese, prefiro is approximately pronounced preh-FEE-roo.

A rough breakdown:

• pre sounds like preh
• fi sounds like fee
• ro at the end is often a light roo sound in many Brazilian accents

So the whole sentence is roughly:

eh-oo preh-FEE-roo ah KAR-nee seng pee-MEN-tah

That is only an approximation, but it helps with the rhythm.

It can mean meat in general, but in Brazil it often refers especially to beef, depending on context.

For example:

• carne = meat / beef
• carne de frango = chicken meat
• carne de porco = pork

So in everyday Brazilian usage, if someone simply says carne, listeners may often imagine beef, unless the context suggests otherwise.