How to say what you like in Portuguese: gostar de
“I like coffee” is eu gosto de café. Two details make it sound right: the little word de, and how it joins the article.
The structure
Gostar always needs de before the thing you like:
Gosto de música.
I like music.
Gostas de viajar?
Do you like travelling?
De + the article
When there's an article, de joins it: de + o = do, de + a = da, de + os = dos, de + as = das. Talking in general, you often don't need the article: gosto de café, gosto de praia.
Gosto muito do Porto.
I really like Porto.
Ela não gosta das segundas-feiras.
She doesn't like Mondays.
Saying it politely
To ask for something, use the conditional or the imperfect: gostaria de or, more common in Portugal, gostava de: Gostava de marcar uma consulta (I'd like to book an appointment).
Try thisDon't drop the de: gosto café is one of the most common beginner mistakes.
Quick check
Complete: “Gosto muito ___ praia de Carcavelos.”
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