Learning how to say I want in Portuguese is one of the most useful steps for beginners who want to speak Brazilian Portuguese in real situations.

The phrase eu quero means I want. You can use it to order food, ask for something, talk about preferences, and create simple sentences quickly.

In this beginner-friendly guide, you will learn how to use eu quero, how to say what you want, how to make negative sentences, and how to ask “do you want?” in Portuguese.

How to Say I Want in Portuguese

I want in Portuguese is eu quero.

For another reference, you can also check this external page about the Portuguese verb querer, which means to want.

What Does Eu Quero Mean?

Eu quero means I want.

The word eu means I, and quero comes from the verb querer, which means to want.

• Eu = I
• Quero = want
• Eu quero = I want

Examples:

• Eu quero água. = I want water.
• Eu quero café. = I want coffee.
• Eu quero pão de queijo. = I want Brazilian cheese bread.
• Eu quero aprender português. = I want to learn Portuguese.

Using Eu Quero with Food and Drinks

One of the most common ways to use eu quero is when ordering food or drinks.

This is a very useful beginner pattern:

Eu quero + food or drink

If you want to practice more vocabulary for restaurants, cafés, and markets, read our guide to food in Portuguese.

How to Say I Want One, Two, or Three Things

You can also use eu quero with numbers.

This pattern is useful for ordering, shopping, or asking for quantities.

• Eu quero um café. = I want one coffee.
• Eu quero dois cafés. = I want two coffees.
• Eu quero três aulas. = I want three classes.
• Eu quero duas bananas. = I want two bananas.

Remember that Portuguese has gender patterns with some numbers:

• Um = one masculine thing
• Uma = one feminine thing
• Dois = two masculine things
• Duas = two feminine things

If you want to review this topic, read our guide to numbers in Portuguese.

Using Eu Quero with Colors

You can use eu quero when choosing between colors too.

This is useful when buying clothes, choosing an object, or pointing to something.

• Eu quero o azul. = I want the blue one.
• Eu quero o vermelho. = I want the red one.
• Eu quero o verde. = I want the green one.
• Eu quero a camiseta preta. = I want the black shirt.

If you are still learning color vocabulary, you can review our guide to colors in Portuguese.

How to Say I Do Not Want in Portuguese

To say I do not want in Portuguese, use eu não quero.

Não means not or no.

Examples:

• Eu não quero café. = I do not want coffee.
• Eu não quero isso. = I do not want this.
• Eu não quero sair hoje. = I do not want to go out today.

How to Ask “Do You Want?” in Portuguese

To ask do you want? in Portuguese, you can say você quer?

Você quer? means do you want?

• Você quer água? = Do you want water?
• Você quer café? = Do you want coffee?
• Você quer aprender português? = Do you want to learn Portuguese?
• Você quer uma aula? = Do you want a class?

This phrase is very common in everyday Brazilian Portuguese.

Eu Quero vs Eu Gosto

Eu quero and eu gosto are both useful, but they do not mean the same thing.

Use eu quero when you want something now or when you want to do something.

Use eu gosto de when you are talking about something you like in general.

Using Eu Quero with Verbs

You can use eu quero before another verb.

This pattern is useful because it helps you create many simple sentences.

Eu quero + verb

• Eu quero aprender português. = I want to learn Portuguese.
• Eu quero falar português. = I want to speak Portuguese.
• Eu quero estudar hoje. = I want to study today.
• Eu quero viajar para o Brasil. = I want to travel to Brazil.
• Eu quero praticar mais. = I want to practice more.

This is one reason why eu quero is such a powerful phrase for beginners.

Useful Eu Quero Phrases for Beginners

Here are some useful beginner phrases with eu quero:

If you want to practice more everyday expressions, read our guide to common Portuguese phrases.

A Simple Conversation with Eu Quero

Here is a short beginner-friendly conversation using eu quero:

Ana: Oi! Você quer café?

Mark: Sim, eu quero café.

Ana: Você quer pão de queijo?

Mark: Sim, eu quero pão de queijo também.

Ana: Ótimo!

English meaning:

Ana: Hi! Do you want coffee?

Mark: Yes, I want coffee.

Ana: Do you want Brazilian cheese bread?

Mark: Yes, I want Brazilian cheese bread too.

Ana: Great!

If you want to practice greetings used in conversations like this, read our guide to greetings in Portuguese.

Common Mistakes with Eu Quero

One common mistake is forgetting the word não when making a negative sentence.

• Eu quero café. = I want coffee.
• Eu não quero café. = I do not want coffee.

Another common mistake is translating “I want to” word by word. In Portuguese, you usually use eu quero plus the verb directly.

• Eu quero aprender português. = I want to learn Portuguese.
• Eu quero falar português. = I want to speak Portuguese.

You do not need a separate word for “to” before the second verb in this basic structure.

Quick Practice

Try translating these phrases into Portuguese:

1. I want water.
2. I want coffee.
3. I want one class.
4. I want two coffees.
5. I want the blue one.
6. I do not want this.
7. Do you want coffee?
8. I want to learn Portuguese.

Answers:

1. Eu quero água.
2. Eu quero café.
3. Eu quero uma aula.
4. Eu quero dois cafés.
5. Eu quero o azul.
6. Eu não quero isso.
7. Você quer café?
8. Eu quero aprender português.

Final Takeaway

I want in Portuguese is eu quero.

This is one of the most useful phrases for beginners because you can use it with food, drinks, numbers, colors, classes, and verbs.

Start with these essential patterns:

• Eu quero… = I want…
• Eu não quero… = I do not want…
• Você quer…? = Do you want…?
• Eu quero aprender português. = I want to learn Portuguese.

After learning eu quero, you can keep practicing beginner Portuguese with our guide to food in Portuguese.

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