Music Preference Podcast: Click here!
This week, we’re going to learn how to discuss preferences, using music as an example. Make sure you check out the BYKI list when you’re done listening!
The word adorar (adore) is used to describe something you really like, whether it’s a person or a thing. In this case it means, “I love to listen to music.”
In Portuguese, we use the word prefer more than we might in English, especially when talking about things we like. Here, the speaker says: “I prefer rock and MPB.” Note that MPB is música popular brasileira, or Brazilian pop music. Also, we use the word acostumado (accustomed to) when discussing things we do regularly, and we can use it in this instance to describe something we often do because we enjoy it. One way we could translate this part of the phrase is “I frequently listen to Latin music.”
There’s always the straightforward gostar (to like) when talking about preference. Here, we say, “I also really like reggae and hip hop.” Don’t forget that the verb gostar always has a de on the end, like “gosto de reggae.”
A useful negative verb to talk about preferences is detestar (to detest). Here, the speaker says, “I can’t stand sertanejo and forró.” Note that sertanejo is a type of Brazilian music akin to American country music, and forró is a type of traditional music from the Northeast of Brazil that uses accordions and percussion.
Odiar (to hate) is a strong negative word and should be used carefully. Aliás can mean a number of things, including “as a matter of fact,” “in fact,” “plus,” “nevertheless,” or “incidentally.” Here, the speaker says, “Plus, I hate pagode.” Pagode is a subgenre of samba that is often played in a circle, like samba groups.
The phrase “não gosto muito” is quite useful when discussing preference, because it denotes that you don’t like something but without being too negative. The speaker says, “I don’t really like axé, but my girlfriend likes it.” Note that axé is a typical Brazilian music from Bahia with very upbeat, pop –like tunes.
De vez em quando means once in awhile. This means, “Once in awhile, I listen to samba and bossa nova.” Note that samba is a masculine noun (o samba) and bossa nova is feminine (a bossa nova). Both are types of Brazilian music born in Rio de Janeiro.
