¿te gusto?
/te ˈɡusto/word by word
The English phrase "do you like me?" is translated into Spanish as ¿te gusto?
This phrase is used to ask if someone has romantic feelings for you. While the verb can be used for many things, when applied to people, it specifically implies a romantic attraction.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is literally translated as "Do I please you?" because the verb gustar functions by expressing that the subject is pleasing to the object.
Which one should you use?
There is a distinction between romantic and platonic attraction. To ask if someone likes your personality or thinks you are a good person without romantic undertones, use ¿te caigo bien? instead of ¿te gusto? To ask if someone dislikes you, you can use ¿te caigo mal?
How does it change in a sentence?
In the phrase ¿te gusto?, the subject is "I" (the person being liked), which is why the verb is conjugated in the first-person singular form gusto. When speaking formally to someone, you must change the pronoun to le to say ¿le gusto?
How do you pronounce it?
/te ˈɡusto/
Did you know?
- While ¿te gusto? asks about attraction, the phrase ¿te caigo bien? literally means 'do I fall well on you?' This is the standard way to ask if someone likes you as a friend.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, asking ¿te gusto? is a much more direct and bold way to initiate a romantic conversation than the more subtle ways English speakers might ask the same question.
- Using ¿le gusto? in a formal setting is rare because the phrase is so intimate that the formal 'you' often clashes with the romantic nature of the question.
Examples in context
- ¿Le caigo bien, profesor?Do I make a good impression on you, professor?
- Sé sincera, ¿te gusto?Be honest, do you like me?
Example conversation
Alejandro and Sofía are talking privately after a date.
- AlejandroSofía, tengo que preguntarte algo. ¿Te gusto?Sofía, I have to ask you something. Do you like me?
- SofíaSí, Alejandro, me gustas mucho.Yes, Alejandro, I like you a lot.
- AlejandroMe alegra mucho escuchar eso.I am very happy to hear that.
- SofíaYo también me alegro.I am glad too.
