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 to express romantic interest. If you want to clarify that you do not have romantic feelings, you can add como amigo or como amiga to say 'I like you as a friend'. Alternatively, me agradas is used to express that you like someone and find them agreeable. For a more casual way to say 'I like you', you can use Me caes bien.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase me gustas literally translates to 'you are pleasing to me' because the verb gustar functions with an indirect object.
Which one should you use?
While me gustas often implies physical attraction or a crush, me agradas implies liking someone's personality or character. For a deeper level of affection or love, use te quiero.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
me gustas is an informal way to express romantic interest. For a formal situation, you may use me gusta or the formal expression Tengo buen concepto de ti, which means 'I have a good opinion of you'.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form me gustas uses the second-person singular conjugation to refer to the person being liked.
How do you pronounce it?
/me ˈɡustas/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly say 'yo te gusto' by following English word order. However, in Spanish, the person being liked is the subject of the verb.
Did you know?
- To say someone is 'likable', Spanish uses the word simpático, which is a 'false friend' because it refers to personality rather than being 'sympathetic' or pitying.
- In some Latin American countries, saying me gustas can be considered so forward that it is reserved exclusively for the beginning of a romantic pursuit.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, te quiero is a common way to say 'I love you' to friends and family, but it is less intense than the heavy 'I love you' used for a spouse.
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.This sentence is useful for clarifying that romantic interest is not intended.Tatoeba #4405154 by pchamorro, translation #2377626 by CK
- Amiga, me caes muy bien.Friend, I really like you.
- Me gustas mucho.I really like you.
- Tú me agradas.I like you.
- Señor, me cae bien.Sir, I like you.
- Tengo buen concepto de usted.I have a good opinion of you.
- 20 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A couple is having a quiet moment in a park.
- SofíaLa verdad es que me gustas mucho.The truth is that I like you a lot.
- JavierDe verdad? Me hace muy feliz oír eso.Really? It makes me very happy to hear that.
- SofíaSí, eres una persona increíble, Javier.Yes, you are an incredible person, Javier.
- JavierTú también me gustas, Sofía.I like you too, Sofia.
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.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
