If you’ve ever tried to say “I like pizza” in Spanish and ended up confused (“Yo gusto la pizza?”), you’re not alone! The verb “gustar” doesn’t work like most Spanish verbs—and it’s not alone. In this guide, you’ll master “gustar” and similar verbs to express likes, dislikes, and preferences naturally in Spanish.
How Does “Gustar” Work? (It’s Backwards!)
Unlike English, “gustar” doesn’t mean “to like”—it means “to be pleasing to.” So instead of saying “I like coffee,” you say:
🔹 “Me gusta el café.” (Literally: “Coffee is pleasing to me.”)
Key Structure:
✅ Indirect Object Pronoun (who likes it) + gustar + subject (what is liked)
| English | Spanish (Literal Meaning) | Correct Translation |
|---|---|---|
| I like books. | Me gustan los libros. (Books are pleasing to me.) | I like books. |
| You like music. | Te gusta la música. (Music is pleasing to you.) | You like music. |
| He likes dogs. | Le gustan los perros. (Dogs are pleasing to him.) | He likes dogs. |
Indirect Object Pronouns for “Gustar”
| Pronoun | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Me | (to) me | Me gusta el helado. (I like ice cream.) |
| Te | (to) you | Te gusta bailar. (You like to dance.) |
| Le | (to) him/her/you (formal) | Le gusta el vino. (He/She likes wine.) |
| Nos | (to) us | Nos gusta viajar. (We like to travel.) |
| Os | (to) you all (Spain) | Os gusta la playa. (You all like the beach.) |
| Les | (to) them/you all | Les gustan las películas. (They like movies.) |
Other Verbs That Work Like “Gustar”
Many Spanish verbs follow the same structure as gustar. Here are the most common ones:
| Verb | Meaning | Example (English → Spanish) |
|---|---|---|
| Encantar | To love / delight | I love chocolate. → Me encanta el chocolate. |
| Interesar | To interest | Politics interests her. → Le interesa la política. |
| Importar | To matter / care about | Do you care about grades? → ¿Te importan las notas? |
| Molestar | To bother | Loud noises bother me. → Me molestan los ruidos fuertes. |
| Faltar | To lack / be missing | We need two more chairs. → Nos faltan dos sillas. |
| Doler | To hurt | My head hurts. → Me duele la cabeza. |
| Fascinar | To fascinate | Science fascinates them. → Les fascina la ciencia. |
| Quedar | To have left / fit | Only 5 minutes remain. → Quedan 5 minutos. |
How to Say You DON’T Like Something
Just add “no” before the pronoun:
- No me gusta el café. (I don’t like coffee.)
- No les interesa el fútbol. (They’re not interested in soccer.)
- No nos importa. (We don’t care.)
Common Mistakes with “Gustar” (And How to Avoid Them)
❌ “Yo gusto la pizza.” (Wrong – sounds like “I please the pizza”)
✅ “Me gusta la pizza.” (Correct – “Pizza is pleasing to me.”)
❌ “Gustamos el cine.” (Wrong – “We please the cinema.”)
✅ “Nos gusta el cine.” (Correct – “We like the cinema.”)
❌ “Le gusta los perros.” (Wrong – “los perros” is plural, so use “gustan”)
✅ “Le gustan los perros.” (Correct – “He likes dogs.”)
Practice Exercise (With Answers)
Translate these into Spanish:
- She loves flowers.
- Do you (informal) like to swim?
- We are interested in history.
- They don’t like horror movies.
Answers:
- Le encantan las flores.
- ¿Te gusta nadar?
- Nos interesa la historia.
- No les gustan las películas de terror.
Final Tips for Mastering “Gustar”
✔ Remember: “Gustar” = “to be pleasing to” (not “to like”)
✔ Use “gusta” for singular, “gustan” for plural
✔ Don’t forget the indirect pronoun (me/te/le/nos/les)
✔ Many other verbs work the same way (encantar, interesar, etc.)
Now you can confidently express likes, dislikes, and preferences in Spanish! 🎉
Want more? Check out our free Spanish verb conjugation tool
