What does it mean word for word?
Literally, te gusta means "it pleases you", where te means "to you" and gusta means "pleases".
Which one should you use?
While te gusta is used for singular items, if the things being liked are plural, you must use te gustan.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, you may encounter the informal and colloquial expression Te mola to convey the same meaning as te gusta.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase changes based on what is being liked and who is being addressed. To change the subject from the informal "you" to "he", "she" or the formal "you", change te to le (as in le gusta). If the thing being liked is plural, you must change the verb to the plural form te gustan.
How do you pronounce it?
/te ɡusta/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly treat "te gusta" as a direct action where the person is the subject.
Did you know?
- The colloquial Spanish expression te mola, used to say 'you like it' or 'it is cool', comes from an old word for a millstone used to grind grain.
- The word gusta shares an ancestor with the English word 'gustatory', which relates to the sense of taste. In both languages, the root connects to the idea of things being palatable or pleasing to the senses.
- In certain Latin American countries, if you want to express a very strong, almost obsessive liking, you might use the slang me encanta instead. While me gusta is standard, encantar suggests the thing has 'enchanted' you.
Examples in context
- Te gusta el helado.You like ice cream.
- Te chifla bailar salsa.You love to dance salsa.
- ¿Te gusta la música?Do you like the music?
- No sé si te gusta este color.I don't know if you like this color.
- ¿Te gusta caminar por el parque?Do you like walking through the park?
Example conversation
Javier and Elena are trying a new dessert at a cafe.
- Javier¿Te gusta el pastel de chocolate, Elena?Do you like the chocolate cake, Elena?
- ElenaSí, está muy rico.Yes, it is very delicious.
- Javier¿Te gusta más que el de vainilla?Do you like it more than the vanilla one?
- ElenaDefinitivamente sí.Definitely yes.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries te, CC BY-SA 4.0.
