me gusta alguien
/me ɡusta alɡjen/from spelling rules
In Spanish, the phrase 'I like someone' is expressed as me gusta alguien.
This phrase is used to express that you have a romantic interest in another person.
What does it mean word for word?
Literally, me gusta alguien translates to 'someone is pleasing to me'.
How does it change in a sentence?
While the standard way to say this is me gusta alguien, you can also say alguien me gusta to mean the same thing. Placing the person at the beginning of the sentence with alguien me gusta serves to add emphasis.
How do you pronounce it?
/me ɡusta alɡjen/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid saying yo gusto alguien. This is a common error for English speakers who follow English word order. However, in Spanish, the person being liked is actually the subject of the verb gustar.
Did you know?
- In some Latin American countries, you might hear me trama alguien, where tramar literally means to plot or scheme, but here it means to find someone attractive.
- Depending on the region, people might use me cae bien to say they like someone's personality, but using me gusta exclusively implies a romantic or physical attraction.
- If you want to say you are 'crushing' on someone in a more colloquial way, you might use the word encantar, which literally means to be enchanted or cast under a spell.
Examples in context
- ¡Me gustas mucho! ¿Podríamos salir a tomar un café juntos?I really like you! Would you like to go out for coffee with me?
- Eres mi tipo ideal, ¿quieres ser mi novio/novia?You're my ideal type. Would you like to be my boyfriend/girlfriend?
- Me gusta alguien de la clase.I like someone from the class.
- No te lo digo, pero me gusta alguien.I won't tell you, but I like someone.
- Creo que me gusta alguien nuevo.I think I like someone new.
Example conversation
Daniel and Lucía are talking in a cafe.
- DanielLucía, tengo un secreto.Lucía, I have a secret.
- Lucía¿Es sobre un chico?Is it about a guy?
- DanielSí, me gusta alguien del trabajo.Yes, I like someone from work.
- Lucía¡Qué emocionante, Daniel!How exciting, Daniel!
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
