les caigo bien
/les kaiɡo bjen/from spelling rules
The English phrase "they like me" is translated into Spanish as les caigo bien.
This phrase is used when other people have a positive opinion of someone's personality.
What does it mean word for word?
Literally, les caigo bien means "I fall well to them". It is built around the verbal idiom caer bien, which means "to be liked" or "to strike someone as pleasant".
Which one should you use?
Do not use me gustan to say people like your personality. me gustan is used for being attracted to someone or liking an object, whereas caer bien is used for social likability.
How does it change in a sentence?
You can add muy before bien to intensify the degree to which they like you. For example, les caigo muy bien means "they like me a lot".
Did you know?
- Because the idiom relies on the verb caer, you can use it to describe how a specific joke or a movie 'lands' with an audience, not just how people feel about you.
- The word bien in this expression shares an ancient Proto-Italic ancestor, *dwenos, with the English word 'bonus'.
- In Spanish, you can use the verb caer to describe a first impression by asking ¿Cómo me cayó?, which asks how the person felt about you after meeting for the first time.
Examples in context
- A ellos les gusto y a ellas les caes bien.They like me, and they think you're likable.
- Les caigo bien a mis compañeros.My classmates like me.
- Parece que les caigo bien.It seems like they like me.
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about a new social group.
- María¿Cómo te va con tus nuevos vecinos?How is it going with your new neighbors?
- DanielMuy bien, les caigo bien.Very well, they like me.
- MaríaQué bueno, me alegro por ti.That's good, I'm happy for you.
- DanielGracias, María.Thanks, María.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bien, les, CC BY-SA 4.0.
