Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| me gustas | /me ˈɡustas/ | informal |
| me gusta | /me ˈɡusta/ | formal |
| me agradas | /me aɡɾadas/ (from spelling rules) | |
| me agrada | /me aɡɾada/ (from spelling rules) | |
| te quiero | /te ˈkjeɾo/ |
The phrase me gustas is used among friends or to express romantic interest. A more direct way to express this is tú me gustas.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase me gustas literally translates to "you are pleasing to me" because the verb gustar functions by expressing that the subject is pleasing to the indirect object.
Which one should you use?
While me gustas can express romantic attraction, me agradas is used to imply a more platonic liking of someone's personality. If you want to express a stronger sense of affection, such as "I love/care for you" for friends, family or established romantic partners, use te quiero.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
me gustas is an informal way to say "I like you", whereas me gusta is the formal version.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, saying Me caes bien is more common than using me gustas.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form me gustas uses the second-person singular conjugation to indicate that the person being liked is the subject of the sentence.
How do you pronounce it?
/me ˈɡustas/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid saying yo te gusto to mean "I like you". This is an incorrect structure. Because the person being liked is the subject in Spanish, you should use me gustas instead.
When do people say it?
The phrase me gustas como amigo is a common way to clarify that romantic attraction is not present, using the verb to define the specific nature of the liking.
Did you know?
- The word me evolved from the Latin 'mē' and the dative 'mihi' in Vulgar Latin. This explains why the person feeling the emotion is treated as the recipient of the feeling.
- Spanish has a separate verb, amar, for profound romantic love. Using te amo instead of te quiero signals a shift from general affection to an intense, soulmate-level passion.
- While te quiero translates to 'I love you', it is used far more casually than the English phrase. It is common to say te quiero to a cousin or a close friend without implying romantic love.
Examples in context
- Por eso me gustas.That's why I like you.Tatoeba #3519655 by teskmon, translation #3519313 by CK
- Creo que me gustas.I think I like you.Tatoeba #4554749 by swyter, translation #1887705 by CK
- Me gustas como amigo.I like you as a friend.Tatoeba #4405154 by pchamorro, translation #2377626 by CK
- ¡Eres muy divertido! Me gustas mucho.You are very funny! I really like you.
- Creo que eres bastante inteligente. Tú me gustas.I think you are quite intelligent. I like you.
- Me caes bien, eres un buen amigo.I like you. You are a good friend.
- Señoría, me gusta usted y su manera de liderarYour Honor, I like you and your way of leading
- 20 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucía confesses her feelings to Daniel on a walk.
- LucíaDaniel, la verdad es que me gustas.Daniel, the truth is that I like you.
- Daniel¿En serio me dices eso?Are you seriously telling me that?
- LucíaSí, me gustas mucho.Yes, I like you a lot.
- DanielTú también me gustas, Lucía.I like you too, Lucía.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “i like you” translations and entries me gustas, me gusta, te quiero, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- 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.
