Gustar: How to Say You Like Something in Spanish
Why gustar works backwards compared with English, and how to use it for likes and dislikes.
In English you say "I like the book." In Spanish, the book is pleasing to you.
The pattern
gustar means "to be pleasing". The thing liked is the subject, so the verb agrees with it, and the person who likes it takes an indirect object pronoun.
| Person | Pronoun |
|---|---|
| I | me |
| you | te |
| he, she, you (formal) | le |
| we | nos |
| you all (Spain) | os |
| they, you all | les |
Singular and plural
- Me gusta el café. I like coffee.
- Me gustan los libros. I like books.
- Te gusta bailar. You like to dance.
Use gusta for one thing or an infinitive, and gustan for several things.
Others
- Nos gusta la playa. We like the beach.
- Les gustan los perros. They like dogs.
- ¿Te gusta el helado? Do you like ice cream?
For emphasis or clarity
Add a + person:
- A mí me gusta el té. I like tea.
- A ella le gusta leer. She likes reading.
- A Pedro no le gustan las fiestas. Pedro doesn't like parties.
Negatives
Put no before the pronoun:
- No me gusta el frío. I don't like the cold.
Stronger feelings
- Me encanta la música. I love music.
- Me fascina la historia. History fascinates me.
- Odio madrugar. I hate getting up early.
Similar verbs
These work the same way:
- encantar, to love
- interesar, to interest
- molestar, to bother
- doler, to hurt: Me duele la cabeza. My head hurts.
Tips
- Think "is pleasing to".
- Match gusta or gustan to the thing liked.
- Use the dictionary to check similar verbs.
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