Portuguese Phrase
O que você quer aprender?
Meaning
This phrase is a direct question used to inquire about someone's interests or goals regarding education or skills. It combines the interrogative 'O que' with the auxiliary verb 'querer' and the infinitive 'aprender'. It is a standard way to start a conversation about personal growth or academic pursuits.
When to use
Use this when meeting a new student, talking to a friend about their hobbies, or in a professional setting like a performance review. It is versatile and works in both formal and informal contexts.
✦Grammar Breakdown
O quevocêqueraprender
O que
This compound interrogative means 'What' when it starts a sentence or stands alone.
Querer (quer)
The verb 'querer' is conjugated here in the third person singular to match 'você'.
Aprender
This is the infinitive form of the verb 'to learn', which follows the conjugated verb 'quer'.
🗨In Conversation
O que você quer aprender?
What do you want to learn?
Eu quero aprender a falar português fluentemente.
I want to learn to speak Portuguese fluently.
✕Common Mistakes
O que você quer aprendendo?
Use the infinitive 'aprender' after the conjugated verb 'quer', not the gerund.
Que você quer aprender?
In standard Portuguese, 'O que' is the correct interrogative for 'What' at the beginning of a sentence.
↔Alternatives
O que você deseja aprender?
What do you wish to learn?
Qual assunto você quer estudar?
Which subject do you want to study?
Cultural Tip
In Brazil, people are generally very enthusiastic about lifelong learning and personal development. Asking this question is seen as supportive and a great way to build rapport. In Portugal, 'você' might be replaced by the person's name to maintain a polite, semi-formal distance.