ఇష్టం
ishtam
To like something or someone in Telugu, the word is ఇష్టం (ishtam).
ఇష్టం is used to express that you find something or someone pleasant or attractive.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word ఇష్టం is a noun meaning 'liking' or 'preference'. In a sentence, it is used in a construction that translates to 'to have a liking for'. To say 'I like', you use the construction నాకు ఇష్టం (nāku ishtam), which literally means 'to me, [there is] liking'. To say 'I don't like', you use the negative form ఇష్టం లేదు (ishtam lēdu).
How do you pronounce it?
ishtam
Did you know?
- The word ఇష్టం is also used to mean 'will' or 'desire', such as in the phrase మీ ఇష్టం, which translates to 'as you wish' or 'it is your choice'.
- While ఇష్టం is the standard way to express preference, if you want to say you 'love' someone in a romantic or deep sense, Telugu shifts to different vocabulary like ప్రేమ (prēma) to avoid ambiguity.
- Because ఇష్టం is a noun, it can be turned into an adjective to describe a 'favorite' thing, such as ఇష్టమైన పుస్తకం for 'favorite book'.
Examples in context
- ఆ సినిమా నచ్చింది.I liked that movie.
- నాకు కాఫీ ఇష్టంNāku kāphī ishtam
- నాకు ఈ పాట ఇష్టం.nāku ī pāṭa iṣṭaṃ.I like this song.
- నీకు ఏ రంగు ఇష్టం?nīku ē raṅgu iṣṭaṃ?Which color do you like?
Example conversation
Sai and Lakshmi are talking about food.
- సాయి Saiలక్ష్మి, నీకు బిర్యానీ ఇష్టమా?Lakshmi, neeku biryani ishtama?Lakshmi, do you like biryani?
- లక్ష్మి Lakshmiఅవును, నాకు అది చాలా ఇష్టం.avunu, naaku adi chaala ishtam.Yes, I like it very much.
- సాయి Saiమరి నాకు కూడా ఇష్టమే.mari naaku kooda ishtame.I like it too.
- లక్ష్మి Lakshmiఅయితే మనం కలిసి తిందాం.ayite manam kalisi tindam.Then let's eat it together.
