Log inSign up

Eu prefiro água.

Eu prefiro água.
I prefer water.
FromLesson 6inHardcore Portuguese (Portugal)

Breakdown of Eu prefiro água.

eu
I
a água
the water
preferir
to prefer

Questions & Answers about Eu prefiro água.

What does Eu mean in the sentence?
Eu is the subject pronoun for I in Portuguese. Although subject pronouns are often dropped in Portuguese (since the verb ending shows who is performing the action), including Eu can add clarity or emphasis.
What is the origin of prefiro, and why is it used here?
Prefiro comes from the verb preferir, which means to prefer. In this sentence, prefiro is the first person singular present form, indicating that the speaker (I) prefers something.
Why is there no article before água?
In Portuguese, mass nouns like água (water) are often used without a definite article when referring to the substance in general. In the context of stating a general preference, saying Eu prefiro água is common and correct.
Can the subject Eu be omitted from the sentence, and what would change if it were?
Yes, the subject Eu can be omitted because the verb ending -o in prefiro already indicates the first person singular. So simply saying Prefiro água is grammatically correct and conveys the same meaning in most contexts.
How is água pronounced in European Portuguese?
In European Portuguese, água is pronounced roughly as /ˈaɡ.wa/, with the accent on the first syllable to indicate that it is stressed. The initial á sounds like ah, and the gu is pronounced like a soft gw sound.
Is the absence of an article before água specific to expressing preferences, or is it a general rule for mass nouns?
It is a general rule for mass nouns in Portuguese when used in a general sense. While you might include an article in other contexts (for example, when specifying a particular instance of the noun), in general statements like Eu prefiro água, omitting the article is both typical and correct.
AI Language TutorTry it ↗
“What's the best way to learn Portuguese grammar?”
Portuguese grammar becomes intuitive with practice. Focus on understanding the core patterns first — how sentences are structured, how verbs change form, and how words relate to each other. Our course breaks these concepts into small lessons so you can build understanding step by step.

Sign up free — start using our AI language tutor

Start learning Portuguese

Master Portuguese — from Eu prefiro água to fluency

All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods.

  • ✓ Infinitely deep — unlimited vocabulary and grammar
  • ✓ Fast-paced — build complex sentences from the start
  • ✓ Unforgettable — efficient spaced repetition system
  • ✓ AI tutor to answer your grammar questions
Start learning Portuguese freeBrowse the full course