What does it mean word for word?
The expression me gusta literally translates to "it pleases me".
Which one should you use?
While me gusta McDonald's means "I like McDonald's", you can use Me encanta McDonald's to express a stronger emphasis, meaning "I love McDonald's".
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, one might say Me encanta McDonald's, es uno de mis lugares preferidos para comer to say "I love McDonald's, it's one of my favorite places to eat." In Mexico, one might say Me gusta mucho McDonald's, sus papas fritas son deliciosas to mean "I really like McDonald's, their french fries are delicious." In Argentina, one might say McDonald's es buenísimo, siempre disfruto comer allí which means "McDonald's is great, I always enjoy eating there."
How do you pronounce it?
/me ɡusta mɡdonalds/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid saying yo gusto McDonald's. English speakers often mistakenly use yo gusto because they translate "I like" directly, but in Spanish, the subject is the thing being liked, not the person.
Did you know?
- The word gusta comes from the Latin gustus, meaning 'taste', which is why the English word 'gustatory' refers to the sense of taste.
- In Spanish, the verb gustar can be used to describe a physical sensation, such as the feeling of a gentle breeze or a massage, rather than just a preference.
- While me gusta expresses liking, the phrase me encanta is used to say 'I love' and literally means 'it enchants me'.
Examples in context
- Disfruto mucho de McDonald's, especialmente sus hamburguesas.I really enjoy McDonald's, especially their hamburgers.
- Me gusta McDonald's, ¡es mi lugar favorito para comer!I like McDonald's, it's my favorite place to eat!
- Me gusta mucho McDonald's, especialmente sus McFlurrys.I really like McDonald's, especially their McFlurrys.
- ¡Sí! Me encanta McDonald's, sus hamburguesas siempre son deliciosas.Yes! I love McDonald's, their hamburgers are always delicious.
- Me gusta McDonald's porque es rápido.I like McDonald's because it is fast.
- Me gusta McDonald's.I like McDonald's.
Example conversation
Daniel and Elena are deciding where to eat lunch.
- DanielTengo hambre, ¿a dónde vamos?I'm hungry, where are we going?
- ElenaMe gusta McDonald's, ¿vamos allí?I like McDonald's, shall we go there?
- DanielEstá bien, me parece buena idea.That's fine, it seems like a good idea to me.
- ElenaPerfecto, vamos entonces.Perfect, let's go then.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
