Which one should you use?
While the English 'enjoy' often refers to internal feelings of pleasure, aproveitar focuses specifically on the action of making use of or seizing an opportunity.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Brazil, curtir is a common expression used in informal contexts. In Portugal, the verb gostar de (to like) is often used to convey the sentiment of enjoying something in both formal and informal settings.
How does it change in a sentence?
The imperative form aproveite is commonly used as a command or suggestion to tell someone to enjoy a moment or an opportunity, such as telling someone to 'make the most of it'.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation of aproveitar is /a.pɾo.vejˈta(ʁ)/. It has 4 syllables, with the stress on the 4th syllable.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use aproveitar to mean 'to enjoy a feeling' (such as enjoying a song). However, aproveitar is better suited for 'enjoying an opportunity' or 'making the most of a situation'.
Did you know?
- The verb aproveitar can be used to describe the act of recycling or repurposing scrap materials to avoid waste.
- The verb aproveitar is built from the word proveito, which means 'profit' or 'advantage'. Using it implies you are gaining some sort of benefit or utility from the experience.
- While aproveitar is used for opportunities, Portuguese speakers use the phrase desfrutar when they want to emphasize the luxurious or sensory pleasure of an experience.
Examples in context
- Eu aprecio a beleza da natureza.I enjoy the beauty of nature.
- Eu desfruto de uma boa caminhada ao ar livre.I enjoy a good walk outdoors.
- Eu curto sair com meus amigos.I enjoy hanging out with my friends.
- Aproveite a festa!Enjoy the party!
- Eu me divirto nas festas de São João.I have fun at São João parties.
- Gosto de praiaI enjoy the beach
- Ela saboreia os pratos tradicionais.She enjoys traditional dishes.
- Aproveite a oportunidade!Enjoy the opportunity!
- Vou aproveitar as férias para descansar.I am going to enjoy my vacation to rest.
- Você deve aproveitar este momento.You should enjoy this moment.
Example conversation
Felipe and Juliana are at a beautiful park on a sunny day.
- FelipeO dia está lindo hoje, não acha?The day is beautiful today, don't you think?
- JulianaSim, vamos aproveitar o parque!Yes, let's enjoy the park!
- FelipeCom certeza, Juliana. Vamos caminhar.For sure, Juliana. Let's walk.
- JulianaEu quero aproveitar cada minuto aqui.I want to enjoy every minute here.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry aproveitar, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries aproveitar, CC BY-SA 4.0.
