prefere

Prefere is the third-person singular present indicative form of the Portuguese verb preferir, meaning to like something more or to choose one option over another. It is used with ele, ela, or the polite você as the subject. For example: “Ele prefere chá a café” and “Você prefere ficar em casa hoje.” In Brazilian Portuguese, the form with você generally takes this same ending, while in European Portuguese the informal second-person singular often appears as preferes when using tu.

Etymology and related forms: Prefere derives from the Latin praeferre, meaning to bear before or to prefer. The verb preferir is commonly used in everyday speech to express preference. Related forms include the first-person singular eu prefiro (I prefer), the noun preferência (preference), and the adjective preferível (preferable).

Usage notes: Prefere appears in statements about current preferences. It can be followed by a choice or by an infinitive construction, such as “prefere trabalhar” or “prefere ir.” The phrase “maior parte da população prefere” is a common collocation in media and writing. In contrast, the English cognate “prefers” shares the same Latin root.

See also: preferir; preferência; preferível.