Learn Spanish · A1–B1

Gustar: stop translating “I like” word for word

Spanish structures gustar around the thing that is pleasing, which is why the verb agrees with what is liked—not with the person who likes it.

The logic

Me gusta el café is structurally closer to “Coffee is pleasing to me” than “I like coffee”. That is why plural things take gustan.

Me gusta el café.
Me gustan los libros.
Me gusta viajar. (an infinitive acts as the thing liked)
PersonPronounExample
ImeMe gusta.
youteTe gusta.
he/she/you formalleLe gusta.
wenosNos gusta.
they/you plurallesLes gusta.

Practice

  1. Ana: ___ gusta la música.
  2. Nosotros: ___ gustan las películas españolas.
  3. Yo: ___ gusta cocinar.
  4. Ellos: ___ gusta Madrid.
Answers: 1 le · 2 nos · 3 me · 4 les.

Frequently asked questions

Why is it me gustan los libros?

Because libros is plural, so the verb agrees with libros: gustan.

Can gustar be used with verbs?

Yes. Use the singular gusta before an infinitive: “Me gusta bailar.”

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