Eu gosto de café.

I like coffee.

Breakdown of Eu gosto de café.

• eu: I
• gostar de: to like
• o café: the coffee

Questions & Answers about Eu gosto de café.

Why do I need to use "de" before "café"?

In Portuguese, the verb gostar is almost always followed by de (in one of its forms). So we say gostar de alguma coisa. That’s why you see Eu gosto de café and not just Eu gosto café.

Why is it "gosto" instead of "gosta" or another form?

The verb gostar is conjugated differently depending on the subject. For eu (I), the present-tense form is gosto (I like). For ele/ela/você (he/she/you), it becomes gosta (he/she/you like(s)). So you match gosto with eu.

Can I drop the pronoun "Eu" at the start of the sentence?

Yes. Portuguese is a pro-drop language, meaning it allows you to omit the subject if the context is clear. You can say Gosto de café instead of Eu gosto de café, and people will still understand you.

Why not "Eu gosto do café"?

If you say "do café," it might suggest you’re talking about a specific coffee (for example, the one in a particular place). But in a general sense—just liking coffee as a beverage—you say "Eu gosto de café."

What if I want to say I like other things too?

You simply continue with de and list them, e.g., "Eu gosto de café, de chá e de sumo de laranja." Each item follows the pattern gostar de + noun.