me gusta algo
/me ɡusta alɡo/from spelling rules
In Spanish, the phrase for "I like something" is me gusta algo.
The phrase is used to express that a person finds a particular thing pleasant or appealing.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase is structured so that the thing being liked acts as the subject of the sentence, while me serves as the indirect object meaning "to me". Effectively, you are saying "something pleases me".
How do you pronounce it?
/me ɡusta alɡo/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid saying yo gusto algo to express that you like something. In Spanish, the thing being liked is what performs the action of pleasing.
Did you know?
- To express that you like someone's personality or enjoy their company without romantic intent, Spanish speakers use the verb caer bien. Literally, this means the person 'falls well' on you.
- When you really love something, you can use me encanta. While often translated as 'I love it', the word comes from the root for 'spell' or 'charm', suggesting the object has cast a spell on you.
- Because gusta describes the effect of an object on a person, you cannot use it to say you like a person in a romantic way. Using me gustas to someone suggests you find them physically attractive or are romantically interested in them.
Examples in context
- Me gusta el chocolate.I like chocolate.
- Me gusta bailar.I like to dance.
- Me gusta nadar.I like swimming.
- Me encanta la música.I love music.
- Me encanta viajar.I love to travel.
- Me encanta el helado.I love ice cream.
- Me fascina la cultura española.I find Spanish culture fascinating.
- Me mola tu estilo.I like your style.
- Me chifla el cine.I'm crazy about movies.
- Me gusta mucho el fútbol.I really like soccer.
- Me gusta algo de este libro.I like something about this book.
- Me gusta algo de tu estilo.I like something about your style.
- Me gusta algo de la música nueva.I like something about the new music.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
