Which one should you use?
While me gustan los chicos uses the word for guys or boys, you can use me gustan los hombres to specify that you like men. Additionally, if you are referring to one specific guy instead of guys in general, you must change the verb from the plural gustan to the singular gusta, as in me gusta el chico.
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb gustar functions differently than the English "to like". In this structure, the subject of the sentence is actually the people being liked (the guys), while the word me functions as the indirect object (to me).
How do you pronounce it?
/me ɡustan los tʃikos/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly say yo gusto los chicos to mean "I like guys". In Spanish, you must use the indirect object pronoun me and ensure the person being liked is the subject of the sentence.
Did you know?
- While me gustan los chicos expresses attraction, adding the word bien as in me caen bien los chicos changes the meaning entirely to 'I get along with guys' in a platonic sense.
- In many Spanish-speaking countries, calling someone a chico can be a term of endearment, but using it to describe an adult man in a formal setting might seem patronizing.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, talking about who you gustan is often framed as a passive experience of being attracted, rather than an active choice of liking someone.
Examples in context
- Soy una persona que se siente atraída por los hombres.I am a person who feels attracted to men.
- Me gustan mucho los chicos, son geniales.I like guys a lot, they are great.
- Me gustan los chicos de mi clase.I like the guys in my class.
- A decir verdad, me gustan los chicos.To tell the truth, I like guys.
- No me gustan las chicas, me gustan los chicos.I don't like girls, I like guys.
Example conversation
Daniel and Lucía are talking about their dating preferences at a cafe.
- Daniel¿Te gustan las chicas o qué?Do you like girls or what?
- LucíaNo, me gustan los chicos.No, I like guys.
- DanielAh, entiendo perfectamente.Ah, I understand perfectly.
- LucíaEs algo muy normal.It is something very normal.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
