Which one should you use?
While me gustan is the standard way to say you like them, you might use Me encantan. to express a stronger feeling, meaning 'I love them.' To express a specific opinion, you can use Me parecen geniales. to say 'I think they are great' or Me resultan simpáticos. to say 'I find them nice.' Another option is Me agradan, which also means 'I like them.'
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, you may hear Me mola(n), which uses the verb molar as a synonym for gustar. In some Latin American countries, the colloquial phrase Me caen chéveres. is used to mean 'I like them.'
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb must be in the plural form gustan because the subject of the sentence is the plural 'them' (the things or people being liked).
How do you pronounce it?
/me ɡustan/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid using a direct object structure like 'Yo gusto ellos' to express this idea. In Spanish, the thing being liked is the subject of the sentence and the person liking it is the indirect object.
Did you know?
- If you use me gustan to talk about people, it can sometimes carry a romantic or sexual connotation, implying you are physically attracted to them.
- In parts of Latin America, you can express that you like people by saying Me caen chéveres, which literally translates to 'They fall to me cool'.
- The word me in this phrase shares an ancient root with the English word 'me', as both descend from the same Proto-Indo-European source.
Examples in context
- Me gustan.I like them.This example shows the phrase used on its own.Tatoeba #594617 by Shishir, translation #2747576 by CK
- Me gustan todos.I like them all.This example shows the phrase used to express liking all of a group.Tatoeba #867693 by Shishir, translation #1369180 by sacredceltic
- Me gustan los empleados de esta empresa.I like the employees of this company.
- Me agradan mucho tus padres.I really like your parents.
- Me caen bien tus colegas.I like your colleagues.
- Me caen bien sus modales.I like their manners.
- Me caen bien tus hermanos.I like your siblings.
- Me caen chéveres tus amigos.I really like your friends.
- Me gustan mucho estos libros.I like these books a lot.
Example conversation
Elena and Javier are looking at a collection of vintage posters.
- Elena¿Te gustan los pósters nuevos?Do you like the new posters?
- JavierSí, me gustan mucho.Yes, I like them a lot.
- ElenaA mí también me gustan.I like them too.
- JavierDeberíamos comprarlos para la sala.We should buy them for the living room.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries me, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
