Portuguese · Food & Drink
"Food" in Portuguese: comida
a comida
Food in Portuguese is a comida, a feminine noun. Use comida for meals and food in general, and o alimento when you mean nutrition in a more formal way. At restaurants you will also hear o prato for a dish.
Choosing a restaurant
Que tipo de comida você prefere hoje?Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce comida
Say it
koh-MEE-dah
/ko.ˈmi.da/
koh-MEE-dah. Stress the mee syllable. The final a is open and clear.
"Food" in Portuguese: quick reference
| Portuguese | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| a comida | food, meal Default everyday word for food and meals. | Default everyday word for food and meals. |
| o alimento | food (nutrition) More formal or scientific contexts. | More formal or scientific contexts. |
| a refeição | a meal Breakfast, lunch, or dinner as a sitting. | Breakfast, lunch, or dinner as a sitting. |
| a comida caseira | home cooking Praise for simple homemade food. | Praise for simple homemade food. |
| a comida de rua | street food Snacks and meals sold on the street. | Snacks and meals sold on the street. |
How to use comida in real life
- 1Choosing a restaurant
Que tipo de comida você prefere hoje?
What kind of food do you prefer today?
Que tipo de comida… is a natural way to narrow options.
- 2Complimenting a host
Sua comida está deliciosa. Posso repetir?
Your food is delicious. Can I have seconds?
Repetir means to have another serving.
- 3At a market
Preciso comprar comida para a semana.
I need to buy food for the week.
Comida covers groceries here, not only a cooked meal.
Mistakes English speakers make with comida
Incorrect: O comida está pronta.
Correct: A comida está pronta.
Comida is feminine, so use a, not o.
Incorrect: Eu gosto comida brasileira.
Correct: Eu gosto de comida brasileira.
Gostar needs de: gostar de comida.
Good to know
In Brazil, lunch is often the main meal, built around rice, beans, a protein, and salad. Asking about comida is also a social icebreaker: people love recommending their favorite boteco, padaria, or prato feito.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Picking a place to eat after work
ChatPal
Você está com fome? Tem uma comida ótima perto daqui.
Are you hungry? There's great food near here.
You
Estou sim. Que comida eles servem?
I am. What food do they serve?
ChatPal
Comida mineira: frango com quiabo, angu e couve.
Minas-style food: chicken with okra, angu, and collard greens.
You
Perfeito. Eu amo essa comida.
Perfect. I love that food.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Food" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Food" in Portuguese
Is comida masculine or feminine?
Feminine: a comida, essa comida gostosa. Adjectives usually take -a forms with it.
How do I ask what someone wants to eat?
O que você quer comer? or Que comida você está a fim?
What is comida caseira?
Home-style cooking. Brazilians use it as praise for simple, comforting meals.
Does Portugal use comida the same way?
Yes. Comida is shared. Meal names differ more, like pequeno-almoço for breakfast in Portugal.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
