What does it mean word for word?
The phrase me gusta literally translates to "it pleases me," and comer means "to eat."
Which one should you use?
You can adjust the intensity of your liking using different verbs: Me gusta mucho comer pizza means "I really like eating pizza," Me encanta comer pizza means "I love eating pizza," and Me fascina comer pizza means "I'm fascinated with eating pizza." You can also specify the type of pizza, such as Me gusta comer pizza margarita (I like eating margherita pizza) or Adoro comer pizza con pepperoni (I adore eating pepperoni pizza).
How does it change in a sentence?
In the phrase me gusta comer pizza, the subject is actually the infinitive verb comer pizza (to eat pizza) rather than the person who likes it. Note that if you change the object from the uncountable pizza to the plural las pizzas, the verb must change from gusta to gustan, as in me gustan las pizzas (I like pizzas).
How do you pronounce it?
/me ɡusta komeɾ piθθa/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid saying yo gusto comer pizza. English speakers often try to translate "I like" directly using yo, but gustar does not function with yo as the subject in this context.
Did you know?
- In Spanish, using me encanta to express that you 'love' eating pizza is actually more common than using the verb amar, which is typically reserved for deep romantic or familial love.
- The word comer is derived from the Latin comedere, which had the darker original connotation of 'consuming' or 'wasting away'.
- While you can say me gusta comer pizza, Spanish speakers often omit the verb comer entirely and simply say me gusta la pizza to express the same preference.
Examples in context
- A veces me gusta comer pizza los viernes.Sometimes I like to eat pizza on Fridays.
Example conversation
Two friends are deciding what to order for dinner.
- Mateo¿Quieres sushi o algo diferente?Do you want sushi or something different?
- LucíaA mí me gusta comer pizza.I like to eat pizza.
- Mateo¡Perfecto! Yo también quiero pizza.Perfect! I want pizza too.
- LucíaEntonces, vamos a pedir una.Then, let's order one.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries comer, me, pizza, CC BY-SA 4.0.
