Portuguese Phrase
Tu gostas de desenhar?
Meaning
A casual way to ask someone if they enjoy drawing. It uses the informal ‘tu’ and the verb ‘gostar’ followed by the infinitive ‘desenhar’. The question expects a yes/no answer or a short elaboration.
When to use
Use this phrase with friends, classmates, siblings, or anyone you address with ‘tu’. It’s perfect for informal conversations, art‑class introductions, or when you want to start a hobby‑related chat.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Tugostasdedesenhar?
Tu (pronoun)
Second‑person singular informal pronoun used in Portugal and Brazil among friends, family, or peers.
gostas (verb)
Present‑indicative of the verb gostar, conjugated for ‘tu’. Note the -s ending; ‘gosta’ is for ‘ele/ela/você’.
de (preposition)
The verb gostar always requires the preposition de before the thing liked.
desenhar (infinitive)
Infinitive form of the verb meaning ‘to draw’. After gostar, the infinitive stays unchanged.
? (question mark)
Marks a yes/no question; in spoken Portuguese the intonation rises at the end.
🗨In Conversation
Tu gostas de desenhar?
Do you like to draw?
Sim, adoro! E tu, gostas de pintar?
Yes, I love it! And you, do you like painting?
✕Common Mistakes
Tu gosta de desenhar?
When using ‘tu’, the verb must be conjugated as ‘gostas’. ‘Gosta’ is for ‘ele/ela/você’.
Tu gostas desenhar?
The preposition ‘de’ is mandatory after ‘gostar’; omitting it sounds ungrammatical.
Tu gostas de desenhando?
Do not add a personal infinitive or gerund after ‘gostar’; keep the plain infinitive.
↔Alternatives
Você gosta de desenhar?
Do you like to draw? (more formal)
Gosta de desenhar?
Do you like drawing? (subject omitted, neutral)
Tu curtes desenhar?
Do you enjoy drawing? (colloquial, especially in Brazil)
És fã de desenhar?
Are you a fan of drawing?
Cultural Tip
In Portugal, ‘tu’ signals familiarity; using it with strangers can be seen as overly familiar. If you’re unsure, start with ‘você’ and switch to ‘tu’ only after the other person does. Also, note that the verb ‘gostar’ always pairs with ‘de’, unlike English ‘like’. In Brazil, you’ll hear ‘curtir’ a lot in informal speech, which works similarly but is not used in Portugal.