Ways to say it
| Portuguese | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| delicioso | /de.li.siˈo.zu/ (Brazil) /de.liˈsjo.zu/ (Brazil) |
masculine |
| saboroso | /sa.boˈɾo.zu/ (Brazil) /sɐ.buˈɾo.zu/ (Portugal) |
|
| gostoso | /ɡosˈto.zu/ (Brazil) /ɡoʃˈto.zu/ (Rio de Janeiro) |
|
| apetitoso | /a.pe.t͡ʃiˈto.zu/ (Brazil) /ɐ.pɨ.tiˈto.zu/ (Portugal) |
These terms are used to describe something that is pleasing to taste. When you are describing the taste of food that is currently being eaten or served, it is more natural to use a form of the verb estar (to be in a state) rather than ser (to be an inherent quality). For example, you would say something está delicioso to mean it is delicious right now.
Which one should you use?
While delicioso is perfectly fine, gostoso is a very common, more colloquial way to say something tastes good or is delicious. The term saboroso also means tasty, and apetitoso can be used to mean appetizing.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Portugal, the word apetitoso is used to mean 'appetizing' and the phrase uma delícia is used to mean 'a delight'.
How does it change in a sentence?
Adjectives must agree in gender with the noun they describe. For example, while delicioso is the masculine form, you should use the feminine form deliciosa for feminine nouns like comida (food).
How do you pronounce it?
/de.li.siˈo.zu/
Did you know?
- In Brazil, if you call a person gostoso or gostosa, you are not saying they have a good taste, but rather that they are 'hot' or 'sexy'.
- In some Brazilian regions, people use the expression está um mel (it is a honey) to describe something that is delicious or very sweet.
- Portuguese speakers sometimes use the word delícia as an exclamation to describe a pleasant experience, such as a massage or a warm bath, regardless of taste.
Examples in context
- O gosto é delicioso.The taste is delicious.This sentence is useful for describing how a taste is delicious using delicioso.Tatoeba #1457101 by alexmarcelo, translation #1454247 by raghebaraby
- Seu bolo é delicioso.Your cake is delicious.This sentence is useful for describing how a cake is delicious using delicioso.Tatoeba #393661 by brauliobezerra, translation #17395 by CK
- O arroz está gostoso.The rice is delicious.This sentence is useful for describing how rice is delicious using gostoso.Tatoeba #1235353 by alexmarcelo, translation #462902 by lukaszpp
- O prato principal estava absolutamente delicioso.The main dish was absolutely delicious.
- Adorei este doce! É realmente muito saboroso.I loved this dessert! It's truly very delicious.
- Esta pizza está muito gostosa!This pizza is really tasty!
- Esse bolo está bom demais!This cake is too good!
- Este arroz está uma delícia!This rice is a delight!
- Essa feijoada está maravilhosa!This feijoada is marvelous!
- 88 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Juliana and Rodrigo are eating dinner at a restaurant.
- JulianaEste peixe está delicioso!This fish is delicious!
- RodrigoEu concordo, o tempero é ótimo.I agree, the seasoning is great.
- JulianaVocê quer provar o meu?Do you want to try mine?
- RodrigoSim, por favor.Yes, please.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “delicious” translations and entries delicioso, saboroso, gostoso, apetitoso, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
