What Does A Fim de Mean? Talk About Being Interested in Portuguese
Estar a fim de can mean being in the mood for or interested in something; a fim de can also introduce a purpose.
Real Life Portuguese · 5 min read · Updated October 14, 2026
The short answer
In informal Brazilian Portuguese, estar a fim de often means that you feel like doing something or are interested in someone or something. Follow it with a noun or an infinitive: estou a fim de um café (I feel like having a coffee), ela está a fim de sair (she feels like going out). The phrase is conversational, so choose a more neutral expression in a formal email.
Use estar a fim de for interest or willingness
The verb estar changes with the subject: estou, está, estamos, estão. In speech, the expression can be shortened in some contexts, but learn the full phrase first so the structure stays clear.
Você está a fim de caminhar no parque?
Would you be up for a walk in the park?
Hoje não estou a fim de cozinhar.
I don’t feel like cooking today.
Ele está a fim dela, mas ainda não conversaram.
He’s interested in her, but they haven’t talked yet.
Separate interest from purpose and relatedness
A fim de + infinitive can also mean ‘in order to’ in a purpose clause, especially in more formal writing: reuni os documentos a fim de solicitar o visto (I gathered the documents in order to apply for the visa). Context tells you whether someone feels like doing something or is describing a purpose.
Afim is a different word, usually an adjective meaning related or similar: áreas afins (related fields). Keep the two-word phrase a fim de separate when it means interest or purpose.
Estou a fim de conhecer a cidade a pé.
I feel like exploring the city on foot.
Ela guardou dinheiro a fim de fazer uma viagem.
She saved money in order to take a trip.
Eles trabalham em áreas afins.
They work in related fields.
Put it into practice
Estar a fim de expresses interest or willingness in casual speech. A fim de can mark purpose; afim is a separate adjective meaning related.
Quick practice
Which Portuguese example matches “I feel like exploring the city on foot”?
Choose an answer to check yourself.
Keep practicing with the Real Life Portuguese app
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