What does it mean word for word?
Literally, the phrase translates to "it occurs to me / it tempts me". It uses the verb antojar, which means to tempt or to strike one with a whim.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, Se me antoja una quesadilla is used to mean "I feel like having a quesadilla". In Spain, the phrase Me apetece is used more often than in Latin America. For example, one might say Me apetece una paella to mean "I feel like having paella". In various Latin American countries, especially in Colombia, Venezuela and Ecuador, the expression me provoca is common. For instance, Me provoca un asado means "I'm craving a barbecue".
How does it change in a sentence?
If the object of your craving is plural, such as tacos, you must change the verb to the plural form se me antojan.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid using yo antojo to mean "I crave". Instead, use the correct impersonal construction se me antoja, which means "it tempts me".
Did you know?
- In parts of the Caribbean and South America, saying me provoca to express a craving can sometimes be misinterpreted by outsiders. Depending on the context and tone, it can occasionally carry a flirtatious or suggestive connotation involving physical attraction.
- The particle se in this phrase has a complex history, evolving from the Old Spanish ge, which was originally a form of the Latin word for 'to him/her'. Over time, its pronunciation shifted until it was reinterpreted as the modern se.
- The word antojo refers not just to food cravings, but to any sudden, irrational whim or caprice. In literature, a person might be described as having an antojo for an unexpected or even impossible desire.
Examples in context
- Me apetece un helado.I feel like having ice cream.
- Se me antoja un café.I feel like having a coffee.
- Tengo ganas de comer tacos.I feel like eating tacos.
- Tengo ganas de comer algo dulce.I feel like eating something sweet.
- Se me antoja un helado de chocolate.I am craving a chocolate ice cream.
- Se me antoja mucho la comida picante.I am really craving spicy food.
Example conversation
Sofía and Javier are walking through a shopping mall.
- SofíaSe me antoja una pizza ahora mismo.I am craving a pizza right now.
- JavierA mí también, ¿vamos a la pizzería?Me too, shall we go to the pizzeria?
- Sofía¡Sí, suena perfecto!Yes, that sounds perfect!
- JavierVamos, que tengo mucha hambre.Let's go, I am very hungry.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries me, se, CC BY-SA 4.0.
