Portuguese Phrase
O que você costuma almoçar?
Meaning
Literally, 'What do you usually have for lunch?' The sentence asks about the speaker's regular lunch choices, focusing on habit rather than a single occasion.
When to use
Use this question in informal or semi‑formal conversations when you want to learn about someone's typical lunch routine—at a new workplace, during a language exchange, or when making plans for a group meal.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Oquevocêcostumaalmoçar?
O (definite article)
Used here as part of the interrogative phrase 'O que' meaning 'what'.
que (interrogative pronoun)
Introduces a question about a thing or action; translates to 'what'.
você (personal pronoun)
Second‑person singular, informal 'you' in Brazilian Portuguese.
costuma (verb – habitual)
Third‑person singular of the verb 'costumar' (to usually do), indicating a regular habit.
almoçar (infinitive verb)
Means 'to have lunch'; the infinitive follows 'costuma' to express the action that is habitual.
🗨In Conversation
O que você costuma almoçar?
What do you usually have for lunch?
Eu costumo comer arroz, feijão e frango grelhado.
I usually eat rice, beans, and grilled chicken.
✕Common Mistakes
O que costuma almoçar?
The verb 'costumar' must be conjugated to match the subject; 'costuma' is correct for 'você', but you cannot drop the subject pronoun in formal writing.
O que você costuma o almoço?
Using the noun 'almoço' (the meal) instead of the infinitive verb changes the meaning to 'What is your usual lunch?' which is acceptable but different in nuance.
Você costuma almoçar?
Leaving out 'O que' turns the sentence into a yes/no question: 'Do you usually have lunch?' – not the intended meaning.
↔Alternatives
Qual é o seu almoço típico?
What is your typical lunch?
O que você costuma comer no almoço?
What do you usually eat at lunch?
O que você costuma almoçar normalmente?
What do you normally have for lunch?
Cultural Tip
In Brazil, lunch (almoço) is the main meal of the day and often includes rice, beans, a protein (meat or fish), and a salad. In the south you might find churrasco, while in the northeast dishes like acarajé are common. When asking this question, it’s polite to show genuine interest, and you may follow up with "E você?" (And you?) to keep the conversation balanced.