What does it mean word for word?
The phrase me gusta hablar contigo is literally translated as "it pleases me to talk with you".
Which one should you use?
While me gusta hablar contigo is the standard way to express this, you can use me encanta hablar contigo if you want to say "I love talking to you".
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, some people may use the slang Me mola hablar contigo or Me mola charlar contigo to express enthusiasm. In Latin America, when addressing a group of people, you should use con ustedes.
How does it change in a sentence?
To adjust the phrase for different audiences, change the prepositional phrase at the end. Use con usted for a formal singular "you", con vosotros to address a group of friends in Spain and con ustedes to address a group of people in Latin America.
How do you pronounce it?
/me ɡusta ablaɾ kontiɡo/
Did you know?
- The verb hablar shares a common ancestor with the English word 'fable'. Both come from the Latin word fabula, which refers to stories or spoken tales.
- In Spanish, the feeling of liking something is described as the object performing an action on the person. Instead of 'I like you', the phrase me gusta suggests that the conversation is actively 'pleasing' the speaker.
- While hablar is used for talking, the word charlar is used for a 'chat'. This word is related to the concept of idle talk and is often used to describe the social act of killing time with friends.
Examples in context
- Me gusta hablar contigo.I like talking to you.
- Siempre me gusta hablar contigo de todo.I always like talking to you about everything.
- Sofía, me gusta hablar contigo por teléfono.Sofía, I like talking to you on the phone.
Example conversation
Mateo and Sofía are finishing a coffee date.
- MateoMe gusta hablar contigo, Sofía.I like talking to you, Sofía.
- SofíaGracias, Mateo. A mí también me gusta.Thank you, Mateo. I like it too.
- Mateo¿Quieres ir por un helado ahora?Do you want to go for an ice cream now?
- SofíaSí, me parece una gran idea.Yes, that sounds like a great idea.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries contigo, hablar, me, CC BY-SA 4.0.
