Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| no gustar | /no ɡustaɾ/ (from spelling rules) |
| desagradar | /desaɡɾaˈdaɾ/ |
| disgustar | /disɡusˈtaɾ/ |
| tener aversión | /teneɾ abeɾsjon/ (from spelling rules) |
| caer mal | /kaˌeɾ ˈmal/ |
The way you express dislike in Spanish depends on whether you are talking about an object, a person's character or a strong feeling of irritation. You can use no gustar for general situations, while disgustar implies a stronger sense of irritation or physical distaste. If you are reacting to someone's personality or 'vibe', caer mal is the standard choice.
Which one should you use?
The phrase no gustar is versatile and can refer to both objects and people. In contrast, caer mal is used specifically to express that you dislike a person's personality or behavior. While no gustar is neutral, disgustar is stronger and often conveys that something is unpleasant or irritating.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some Latin American countries, the verb empalagar can be used metaphorically to express a dislike for something that feels overwhelming or excessive. In Spain, the noun tirria is used to describe a deep-seated dislike or aversion toward someone or something.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
Because verbs like gustar function as 'to be pleasing to', you must use indirect object pronouns (me, te, le, nos, os, les) to indicate who is experiencing the dislike.
How do you pronounce it?
/no ɡustaɾ/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid saying Yo no gusto la comida to mean 'I don't like the food'. In Spanish, the thing being disliked is the subject of the sentence. Instead, you should say No me gusta la comida.
Did you know?
- The word no is actually a contracted version of the Latin word numero, which originally meant 'number'.
- To say you dislike a person's character, you would use caer mal instead of a direct verb like 'dislike'. This literally translates to 'to fall badly' upon you.
- Spanish speakers use the verb empalagar to express a dislike for something that is too sweet, like a dessert that becomes overwhelming.
Examples in context
- No me gusta la comida picanteI don't like spicy food
- No me agrada su actitudI don't like their attitude
- No soporto el ruido constanteI can't stand the constant noise
- Me disgusta su comportamiento irrespetuosoI am disgusted by their disrespectful behavior
- No me mola el cine de terrorI don't like horror movies
- No me cae bien ese chicoI don't like that guy
- No puedo ni ver a mi jefeI can't stand my boss
- El ruido constante me revientaThe constant noise drives me crazy
Sources
- Wiktionary, “dislike” translations and entries desagradar, disgustar, caer mal, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries aversión, desagradar, disgustar, gustar, no, tener, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
