Portuguese Phrase
É vegetariano?
Meaning
A direct question asking whether the person you are speaking to follows a vegetarian diet. It assumes a permanent lifestyle choice, so ser (É) is appropriate rather than estar.
When to use
Use this phrase when you want to know someone's dietary preferences – at a restaurant, when planning a meal, or in casual conversation about lifestyle choices.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Évegetariano?
É (ser)
É is the third‑person singular present of ser, used for permanent characteristics like diet.
vegetariano (gender)
vegetariano is the masculine form; use vegetariana for a female subject.
Question mark
In Portuguese, the interrogative sentence is marked with an opening (¿) and closing (?) in writing, but only the closing ? appears in speech.
🗨In Conversation
É vegetariano?
Are you vegetarian?
Sim, sou vegetariano. E você?
Yes, I am vegetarian. And you?
✕Common Mistakes
Está vegetariano?
Use ser (É) for permanent traits; estar is for temporary states.
É vegetarianoa?
The adjective must agree with gender: vegetariano (m) vs vegetariana (f).
É vegetariano(s)?
The singular form asks about one person; use "São vegetarianos?" for a group.
↔Alternatives
Você é vegetariano?
Are you vegetarian?
É vegetariana?
Are you (female) vegetarian?
É vegetariano(a)?
Are you vegetarian? (gender‑neutral form)
Você segue uma dieta vegetariana?
Do you follow a vegetarian diet?
Cultural Tip
Vegetarianism has grown in popularity in Brazil, especially in larger cities like São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. When asking the question, it’s polite to follow up with a brief explanation of why you’re asking (e.g., “Estou planejando o cardápio”) to avoid sounding intrusive. Also, remember that many Brazilian restaurants label vegetarian dishes as "opção vegetariana" on the menu.