What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to "to me science is pleasing" because the verb gustar functions differently than the English "to like".
Which one should you use?
While me gusta la ciencia expresses a general fondness, you can use me encanta la ciencia to express a stronger level of passion or to say "I love science". If you wish to express an extreme level of enthusiasm, you might say Adoro la ciencia ("I adore science").
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, you may hear the slang Me mola la ciencia to mean "I like science" or the informal expression Estoy enganchado/a a la ciencia to mean "I'm hooked on science". In Latin America, it is common to use Me encanta la ciencia for "I love science" and Me fascina la ciencia to express being fascinated or captivated by science.
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb must agree with the subject. If you are referring to the various branches of science in the plural, you must change the verb to me gustan las ciencias.
How do you pronounce it?
/me ɡusta la θjenθja/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid saying yo gusto la ciencia. English speakers often make this error by trying to translate "I" directly, but in Spanish, the thing being liked is the subject, not the person.
Did you know?
- The verb encantar used in me encanta la ciencia comes from the word for 'chant' or 'spell', suggesting the person is enchanted by the subject.
- While English uses 'like' for both objects and people, using the verb gustar to describe a person can sometimes imply a romantic or sexual attraction.
- While you might use 'I love' in English, saying Yo amo la ciencia in Spanish can sound oddly romantic or even intense, as amar is often reserved for deep human affection.
Examples in context
- Me gusta la ciencia porque es fascinante.I like science because it is fascinating.
Example conversation
Two students are discussing their favorite subjects at university.
- María¿Cuál es tu materia favorita, Mateo?What is your favorite subject, Mateo?
- MateoA mí me gusta la ciencia, ¿y a ti?I like science, and you?
- MaríaA mí me gusta la historia.I like history.
- MateoEs una materia muy interesante.It is a very interesting subject.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
