Portuguese Phrase
Não, prefiro comer sozinho.
Meaning
This phrase is a polite but firm way to decline a social invitation to share a meal. It uses the first-person present form of the verb 'preferir' to express a personal choice or habit.
When to use
Use this when a colleague or friend invites you to lunch or dinner, but you would rather have some quiet time or focus on your own thoughts. It is common in professional environments or when traveling solo.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Nãoprefirocomersozinho
Preferir (Prefiro)
The verb 'preferir' is an irregular verb where the 'e' changes to 'i' in the first-person singular present tense.
Gender Agreement
The word 'sozinho' is an adjective and must agree with the speaker; use 'sozinha' if the speaker is female.
🗨In Conversation
Você quer almoçar com a gente hoje?
Do you want to have lunch with us today?
Não, prefiro comer sozinho.
No, I prefer to eat alone.
✕Common Mistakes
Não, prefiro como sozinho.
After the verb 'preferir', the following action must be in the infinitive form 'comer'.
Não, prefiro comer sózinho.
There is no accent on the 'o' in 'sozinho' in modern Portuguese spelling.
↔Alternatives
Gosto de comer sozinho.
I like to eat alone.
Hoje vou comer por conta própria.
Today I am going to eat on my own.
Cultural Tip
In many Portuguese-speaking countries, especially Brazil, eating is viewed as a social event. While saying you prefer to eat alone is perfectly fine, adding a 'Obrigado' (Thank you) at the end can help soften the refusal and keep the interaction friendly.