Portuguese Phrase
O que te apaixona?
Meaning
Literally, 'What makes you fall in love?' It is used to ask someone what they are passionate about or what sparks strong affection in them. The tone can be playful, romantic, or simply curious, depending on context.
When to use
Use this phrase when you want to learn about someone's passions, hobbies, or the things that move their heart—whether in a casual chat with a friend, a dating conversation, or a deeper interview about personal motivations.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Oqueteapaixona?
Definite article O
Used here as a neutral article before the interrogative pronoun, similar to 'what' in English.
Interrogative pronoun que
Introduces a question meaning 'what' and is followed by a verb.
Clitic pronoun te
Second‑person singular object pronoun meaning 'you', placed before the verb in European Portuguese and after in informal Brazilian speech.
Verb apaixona (present 3rd person singular)
From the verb 'apaixonar' (to make fall in love). The form 'apaixona' agrees with the implicit subject 'o que' (what).
Question mark
Marks the sentence as a direct question.
🗨In Conversation
O que te apaixona?
What makes you fall in love?
A música ao vivo, especialmente o samba. E você?
Live music, especially samba. And you?
✕Common Mistakes
O que teu apaixona?
Do not replace the clitic with the possessive 'teu' – the correct object pronoun is 'te'.
O que te apaixonar?
Avoid using the infinitive 'apaixonar' after 'que' – you need the conjugated form 'apaixona'.
O que te apaixona
Missing the question mark changes the sentence into a statement: 'O que te apaixona' means 'What you love' (a noun phrase).
↔Alternatives
O que te encanta?
What enchants you?
O que te fascina?
What fascinates you?
O que te deixa apaixonado(a)?
What makes you fall in love?
Cultural Tip
In Brazil, 'apaixonar' is often used metaphorically to talk about strong interests, not only romantic love. The clitic 'te' can appear after the verb in very informal speech ('O que apaixona-te?'), but the pre‑verb placement shown here is the standard in both European and Brazilian Portuguese. Keep the tone light—using this question with strangers can feel intimate, so it’s best saved for people you already know well or in a context where personal passions are being discussed.