Portuguese Phrase
Adoro a massa deles.
Meaning
Literally, ‘I love their pasta.’ The speaker is expressing a strong liking for the pasta prepared by a particular group – a family, a restaurant, or friends. In a broader sense it can also refer to ‘the mass of them,’ but the culinary meaning is the most common in everyday conversation.
When to use
Use this sentence when you want to compliment the pasta made by someone else, such as a friend’s cooking, a restaurant’s specialty, or a family’s traditional recipe. It works in casual chats, restaurant reviews, or when recommending a place to a friend.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Adoroamassadeles.
Adoro (verb)
‘Adoro’ is the first‑person singular present indicative of the verb *adorar* (to love, to adore).
a (definite article)
The feminine singular article *a* agrees with the noun *massa*.
massa (noun)
In Brazilian Portuguese *massa* commonly means ‘pasta’; it is a feminine singular noun.
deles (possessive pronoun)
‘deles’ means ‘their’ (masculine plural) and follows the noun it modifies; it does not change gender to match the noun.
🗨In Conversation
Você já experimentou a massa deles?
Have you tried their pasta yet?
Sim, adoro a massa deles!
Yes, I love their pasta!
✕Common Mistakes
Adoro a massa seu.
‘Seu’ must agree with the noun’s gender and number and can be ambiguous; use ‘deles’ for clear plural ownership.
Adoro massa deles.
Dropping the article makes the sentence sound incomplete in Portuguese.
Adorar a massa deles.
Using the infinitive *adorar* instead of the conjugated form is incorrect in a statement.
↔Alternatives
Gosto muito da massa deles.
I really like their pasta.
Sou fã da massa que eles preparam.
I'm a fan of the pasta they make.
Adoro a comida deles.
I love their food.
Cultural Tip
In Brazil, *massa* is a generic word for any kind of pasta, while *macarrão* is the most common specific term. When praising a restaurant’s dish, Brazilians often say *a massa* followed by the owner’s or chef’s name, e.g., *a massa da Casa da Nona*. Remember that *deles* refers to a group of people (or a business) and is gender‑neutral; avoid using *seu* because it can be ambiguous and may sound overly formal.