preferida

Preferida is the feminine form of the adjective "preferido" in Spanish and Portuguese, used to indicate something or someone that is favored above others. It describes a thing, a person, or a choice regarded as the most liked or selected. In everyday language, "preferida" can function with a definite article to mean "the favorite"—for example, "la preferida" in Spanish or "a preferida" in Portuguese—or appear in phrases like "mi película preferida" or "minha música preferida."

Etymology and grammar: The term derives from the Latin praeferre (to bear before). The form "preferida" agrees in gender with the noun it modifies; masculine forms are "preferido" and plural forms are "preferidos" (masc) and "preferidas" (fem). In Portuguese, similar patterns hold. "Preferida" is commonly used across styles and registers, from casual speech to media and literature. It is an adjective and, with a definite article, can function as a noun meaning "the favorite." It is not a noun in itself and should not be confused with the verb "preferir," which means to prefer.

Examples: Spanish: "Mi película preferida es esa," "Ella es mi persona preferida." Portuguese: "Meu livro preferido é este," "Ela é a minha preferida." The term also appears in titles or nicknames, often conveying affection or priority in a list of choices.

Related terms include preferir, preferido, preferência, and favorito.