Portuguese Phrase
O que você vai almoçar?
Meaning
Literally, “What are you going to have for lunch?” It asks the listener which dish or food they plan to eat during the midday meal. In Brazil, lunch (o almoço) is often the main meal of the day, so the question can also imply curiosity about the day’s menu.
When to use
Use this phrase when you want to know a friend’s lunch plans, during a break at work, or when you’re deciding where to eat together. It’s informal but perfectly polite in everyday conversation.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Oquevocêvaialmoçar?
O que
Interrogative pronoun meaning “what”. It introduces a question about an object or action.
você
Second‑person singular pronoun, informal but widely used in Brazil. It does not affect verb conjugation; the verb still follows third‑person forms.
vai
Present tense of the verb *ir* used as a periphrastic future (ir + infinitive) to express “going to”. Conjugated for *você* (third‑person singular).
almoçar
Infinitive verb meaning “to have lunch”. Paired with *vai* to form the future construction *vai almoçar*.
?
Question mark signals that the sentence is interrogative.
🗨In Conversation
O que você vai almoçar?
What are you going to have for lunch?
Ainda não sei, talvez um arroz com feijão e frango.
I don’t know yet, maybe rice with beans and chicken.
✕Common Mistakes
O que você vai comer?
While *vai comer* is understandable, *almoçar* specifically refers to the midday meal, making it more natural in this context.
Você vai almoçar.
Missing the interrogative *O que* changes the sentence from a question to a statement.
O que vai almoçar?
Dropping the subject pronoun *você* is acceptable in informal speech, but beginners often forget the correct verb agreement; *vai* must stay third‑person singular.
↔Alternatives
O que você vai comer no almoço?
What are you going to eat for lunch?
Qual é o seu almoço hoje?
What’s your lunch today?
O que você vai escolher para o almoço?
What will you choose for lunch?
Cultural Tip
In Brazil, lunch (o almoço) is typically served between 12 pm and 2 pm and often consists of rice, beans, a protein (meat, fish or tofu), and a salad or vegetables. Asking about lunch is a common way to start a friendly conversation, especially in workplaces where a shared break is customary. Be aware that in some regions, a lighter “lanche” (snack) may replace a full meal on weekends.