me gusta el desayuno
/me ɡusta el desaʝuno/from spelling rules
To say "I like breakfast" in Spanish, use me gusta el desayuno.
This phrase is used to express that a person enjoys the first meal of the day.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase uses the indirect object pronoun me (to me) and the verb gustar (to be pleasing), so it literally translates to "breakfast is pleasing to me".
How does it change in a sentence?
When expressing likes in Spanish, you must use the definite article el before the noun desayuno. If you wish to say you like breakfasts in general (plural), you should use me gustan los desayunos to ensure the verb gustar agrees with the plural noun.
How do you pronounce it?
/me ɡusta el desaʝuno/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid saying yo gusto el desayuno. While this is a common mistake for English speakers attempting a direct translation of "I like", in Spanish the thing being liked is actually the subject that performs the action of pleasing.
Did you know?
- The structure of me gusta is used for food but also for people, though using it for a person can sometimes imply a romantic or physical attraction rather than a platonic liking.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, el desayuno is often split into two parts: a light snack immediately after waking and a larger, second meal later in the morning.
- The word desayuno is a 'deverb' meaning it is built directly from the action of eating it. It comes from the verb desayunar, which literally means to 'un-fast' yourself.
Examples in context
- Me gusta el desayuno. Suelo comer cereal y frutas.I like breakfast. I usually eat cereal and fruit.
- Siempre digo que me gusta el desayuno.I always say that I like breakfast.
Example conversation
Mateo and María are talking about their morning routines.
- MateoMe gusta el desayuno.I like breakfast.
- MaríaYo también, es mi parte favorita.Me too, it is my favorite part.
- Mateo¿Qué quieres comer hoy, María?What do you want to eat today, María?
- MaríaSolo quiero fruta y té.I only want fruit and tea.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries desayuno, el, me, CC BY-SA 4.0.
