quién te gusta
/kjen te ɡusta/from spelling rules
The English phrase "who you like" is translated into Spanish as quién te gusta.
This phrase refers to the person that someone finds attractive or has romantic feelings for.
What does it mean word for word?
Literally, quién te gusta translates to "who pleases you". This is because the verb gustar functions differently than the English verb "to like".
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, the informal phrase Me mola [name] is used to say "I like [name]". The expression Me cae bien [name] is used across various Spanish-speaking countries to indicate that you like someone's personality.
Did you know?
- To describe a 'crush' or someone you like secretly, Spanish speakers often use the phrase tener un flechazo, which literally means 'to have been hit by an arrow'.
- While 'who you like' can be a casual inquiry in English, asking ¿Quién te gusta? in many Spanish-speaking cultures carries a much more direct and heavy romantic weight.
- The word quién in this phrase is a descendant of the Latin quem, which was the accusative form of the interrogative pronoun.
Examples in context
- Me gusta Juan.I like Juan.
- Me mola Laura.I like Laura.
- Me cae bien Carlos.I like Carlos.
- Estoy colado por Ana.I'm head over heels for Ana.
- Dime quién te gusta de la clase.Tell me who you like in the class.
Example conversation
Two friends are gossiping about a new coworker.
- Javier¿Quién te gusta del equipo nuevo?Who do you like from the new team?
- ElenaNo sé, pero creo que es el chico alto.I don't know, but I think it's the tall guy.
- Javier¡Ah! ¿Entonces ya sabes quién te gusta!Ah! So you already know who you like!
- Elena¡Cállate, Javier!Shut up, Javier!
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries quién, te, CC BY-SA 4.0.
