Portuguese Phrase
Tomara que esteja gostoso.
Meaning
The speaker is expressing a wish or hope that something—most often a dish or a meal—will be tasty. It conveys a friendly, informal tone and is commonly used when you’re about to try food that someone else prepared.
When to use
Use this phrase in casual conversation when you’re looking forward to a meal, a snack, or even a new recipe. It’s perfect for family gatherings, restaurants, or when a friend mentions a dish they’ve cooked.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Tomaraqueestejagostoso
Tomara que
A colloquial expression meaning “I hope that”. It always introduces a clause that requires the subjunctive mood.
Subjunctive present of estar
After “Tomara que”, verbs go into the present subjunctive. For “estar” the form is “esteja”.
Gostoso
When referring to food, “gostoso” means ‘tasty, delicious’. It can also describe people or situations as ‘pleasant/attractive’, so context matters.
🗨In Conversation
Já experimentou o prato novo do chef?
Have you tried the chef’s new dish?
Ainda não, mas tomara que esteja gostoso!
Not yet, but I hope it’s tasty!
✕Common Mistakes
Tomara que está gostoso.
After “Tomara que” you need the subjunctive, not the indicative.
Tomara que esteja delicioso.
“Delicioso” is correct but changes the nuance; “gostoso” feels more casual and personal.
Tomara que estar gostoso.
The infinitive “estar” cannot follow “Tomara que”. Use the conjugated subjunctive form.
↔Alternatives
Espero que esteja bom.
I hope it’s good.
Tomara que fique saboroso.
Hopefully it turns out flavorful.
Será que vai ser gostoso?
Will it be tasty?
Cultural Tip
“Tomara” comes from the Arabic phrase “tamanna” (to wish). In Brazil it’s used informally and often at the start of a sentence to express hope. It’s not appropriate for very formal writing, but it adds a warm, conversational flavor to everyday speech.