What does it mean word for word?
Literally, the phrase translates to "dogs are pleasing to you". This is because the verb gustar functions differently than the English "to like", where the thing being liked acts as the subject.
Which one should you use?
While ¿te gustan los perros? is the standard way to ask about dogs in general, if you are asking about one specific dog, you should change the verb form to ¿te gusta el perro?
How does it change in a sentence?
The form changes based on who you are talking to and how many people there are. Use ¿os gustan los perros? when asking a group of people you are on familiar terms with (informal "you all"). Use ¿les gustan los perros? when asking a group of people formally (formal "you all"). Additionally, if you are asking about a single dog, the verb changes from gustan to gusta.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid saying "Yo gusto los perros" to mean "I like dogs". In Spanish, the thing being liked is the subject of the sentence, so you must use the structure where the dogs are the subject.
When do people say it?
If someone asks you this question, a natural way to respond is "Sí, me gustan" (Yes, I like them) or "No, no me gustan" (No, I don't like them).
Did you know?
- While gustar is used for 'liking' dogs, Spanish uses the same verb to express romantic or sexual attraction to a person, such as me gustas, meaning 'I am attracted to you'.
- In some Caribbean dialects, calling someone a perro can specifically imply they are unfaithful or overly flirtatious in relationships.
- The word los in the phrase is a descendant of the Latin word illōs, which meant 'those'.
Examples in context
- Perdón, señor, ¿le gustan los perros?Excuse me, sir, do you like dogs?
- Oye, ¿te gustan los perros?Hey, do you like dogs?
- ¿Sabes qué? ¿Te agradan los perros?You know what? Do you like dogs?
- ¿Te gustan los perros?Do you like dogs?
- Dime, ¿te gustan los perros?Tell me, do you like dogs?
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries los, te, CC BY-SA 4.0.
