lo que me gusta
/lo ke me ɡusta/from spelling rules
The English phrase "what I like" is translated into Spanish as lo que me gusta.
If you wish to express a much higher level of enthusiasm, you might use the verb encantar, which means to love.
What does it mean word for word?
Literally, lo que me gusta means "the thing that pleases me". It is composed of lo que (the thing that), me (to me) and gusta (it pleases).
How does it change in a sentence?
Because the verb gustar is used, the subject of the sentence is actually what I like (the thing) and me is the indirect object representing "I". If the thing being liked is plural, the verb must change to gustan, as in Lo que me gustan son los libros (What I like are the books).
How do you pronounce it?
/lo ke me ɡusta/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid saying lo que yo gusto. English speakers often mistakenly use yo gusto instead of me gusta because they try to translate "I like" directly, but gustar functions as "to be pleasing to".
Did you know?
- In some regions, people use me gusta sarcastically to mean 'I don't like it at all', often accompanied by a specific facial expression or tone.
- In Spanish, you can use me gusta to express attraction to a person, but doing so can sound more physical or superficial than the English 'I like'.
- The word lo in lo que me gusta comes from the Latin illud, which was specifically used for neuter gender nouns.
Examples in context
- Sabes lo que me gusta.You know what I like.This sentence shows how to express that someone knows your preferences using lo que me gusta.Tatoeba #4554895 by swyter, translation #3342830 by CK
- Lo que me gusta es su forma de hablar.What I like is her way of talking.This sentence uses lo que me gusta to identify a specific trait as a preference.Tatoeba #1863556 by marcelostockle, translation #246694 by CK
- Lo que me gusta oír es su manera de hablar.What I like hearing is her way of speaking.This sentence uses lo que me gusta to specify a particular sound or manner of speaking that is enjoyed.Tatoeba #1863555 by marcelostockle, translation #10224272 by DJ_Saidez
- Me gusta el cineI like movies
- Me gusta bailarI like to dance
- Me gusta la músicaI like music
- Me gusta cocinarI like cooking
- Disfruto de la lecturaI enjoy reading
- Disfruto de los deportes al aire libreI enjoy outdoor sports
- Me gusta mucho ir de comprasI really like to go shopping
- Me gusta mucho salir con amigosI really like going out with friends
- Me gusta mucho la música alegreI really like cheerful music
- Me encanta nadar rápidamenteI love swimming quickly
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Javier and Lucía are discussing their favorite types of food.
- JavierLo que me gusta es la comida italiana.What I like is Italian food.
- Lucía¿De verdad? A mí me encanta la comida mexicana.Really? I love Mexican food.
- JavierEsa es una buena opción también.That is a good option too.
- LucíaPodemos ir a un restaurante nuevo mañana.We can go to a new restaurant tomorrow.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries lo, me, que, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
