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A1 phrase #400 le plus courant 11 min de lecture

Te gusta

Top 400

At the A1 level, 'te gusta' is introduced as a fixed phrase to express likes and dislikes. Students learn that it is the informal way to ask 'Do you like...?' or state 'You like...'. The focus is on the most basic construction: 'Te gusta' + singular noun (like 'el café') or 'Te gusta' + infinitive verb (like 'leer'). At this stage, learners are taught to treat 'te gusta' as a single unit of meaning, even before they fully grasp the complexities of indirect object pronouns. The emphasis is on practical communication, such as ordering food or discussing hobbies. Common vocabulary paired with 'te gusta' includes food, colors, and simple activities. Learners also practice the negative form 'no te gusta' and the question form '¿te gusta?'. The goal is to enable basic social interaction and the exchange of personal information in a familiar setting.

At the A2 level, learners begin to understand the 'gustar-like' verb structure more deeply. They learn the difference between 'te gusta' (singular) and 'te gustan' (plural), recognizing that the verb must agree with the object. They also explore the use of the clarifier 'a ti' for emphasis or contrast (e.g., 'A mí me gusta el cine, ¿y a ti te gusta?'). The range of topics expands to include past preferences using the imperfect tense ('te gustaba') and future possibilities. Learners are expected to use 'te gusta' in more complex sentences, such as those involving frequency adverbs ('te gusta mucho', 'no te gusta nada'). They also start to distinguish between 'gustar' for things and 'caer bien' for people, avoiding the common mistake of using 'gustar' for platonic friendships.

At the B1 level, the focus shifts to more nuanced expressions and different moods. Learners master the conditional form 'te gustaría' to express desires or polite requests ('¿Te gustaría ir al cine?'). They also encounter 'te gusta' in the subjunctive mood after certain expressions of emotion or doubt ('Me alegra que te guste el regalo'). The vocabulary becomes more abstract, moving beyond physical objects to concepts like 'la libertad' or 'la justicia'. B1 students should be able to use 'te gusta' in narratives and more detailed descriptions of personality and preferences. They also learn more synonyms like 'te agrada' or 'te complace' and understand the subtle differences in tone and formality between them.

At the B2 level, students use 'te gusta' with full grammatical flexibility across all tenses and moods. They can handle complex structures like 'te habría gustado' (you would have liked) or 'no creo que te guste' (I don't think you like it). The focus is on the pragmatic use of the phrase in different social registers. They understand how 'te gusta' can be used sarcastically or rhetorically. B2 learners also explore the psychological aspects of 'gustar' and how it relates to other verbs of feeling. They can discuss cultural differences in preferences and use 'te gusta' to engage in debates or persuasive speaking, justifying their opinions with complex supporting arguments.

At the C1 level, 'te gusta' is used with sophisticated precision. Learners understand its use in literary contexts and idiomatic expressions. They can analyze the stylistic choice of using 'te gusta' versus more formal alternatives like 'te resulta grato' or 'te es de agrado'. The focus is on the subtle connotations and the impact of word order on emphasis. C1 students can use the phrase in professional or academic discussions about aesthetics, psychology, or sociology. They are also sensitive to regional variations in the use of 'gustar' and can adapt their speech to different dialects of Spanish, including the use of 'voseo' (te gusta vs te gustás) in certain regions of Latin America.

At the C2 level, the learner has a native-like command of 'te gusta' and its place within the vast landscape of Spanish expressions of preference. They can appreciate and use the phrase in complex wordplay, poetry, and high-level rhetoric. They understand the historical evolution of the verb 'gustar' from its Latin roots and how its syntax has changed over time. C2 speakers can use 'te gusta' to convey the finest shades of meaning, irony, and cultural nuance. They are capable of critiquing the use of the phrase in media and literature, and they can seamlessly integrate it into any discourse, regardless of complexity or abstraction.

Entraîne-toi Exemples Notes et astuces

Te gusta en 30 secondes

Used to say 'you like' in informal Spanish.
Grammatically means 'it pleases you'.
Requires 'te' (to you) and 'gusta' (pleases).
Followed by singular nouns or infinitive verbs.

The phrase te gusta is one of the most fundamental building blocks of the Spanish language, yet it represents a significant hurdle for English speakers due to its unique grammatical structure. At its core, te gusta translates to 'you like,' but a more literal and helpful translation for learners is 'it is pleasing to you.' This distinction is crucial because it explains why the verb is conjugated the way it is. In English, the person doing the liking is the subject of the sentence. In Spanish, the thing being liked is actually the subject, and the person is the indirect object. This is why we use te (to you) instead of tú (you). When you say te gusta la música, you are literally saying 'the music pleases you.' This phrase is used in informal settings, specifically when addressing one person whom you know well, such as a friend, family member, or peer. It is the backbone of social interaction, allowing you to inquire about preferences, hobbies, and opinions.

Grammatical Role: The word 'te' is an indirect object pronoun, while 'gusta' is the third-person singular form of the verb 'gustar'.
Social Context: Used in the 'tú' form, making it appropriate for casual, non-professional, or familiar relationships.
Core Meaning: Expresses a positive preference or attraction toward an object, activity, or concept.

Understanding the frequency of this phrase is also vital. You will hear it in almost every conversation where people are getting to know each other. It is the primary way to ask 'Do you like...?' by simply adding question marks and changing the intonation: ¿Te gusta?. Because Spanish is a pro-drop language, the 'tú' is often omitted or replaced by the optional clarifier a ti. Therefore, A ti te gusta and Te gusta mean the exact same thing, though the former adds emphasis. This phrase is versatile; it can be followed by a noun (singular), an infinitive verb, or even a clause. For example, te gusta comer (you like to eat) or te gusta el chocolate (you like chocolate). It is important to note that if the thing you like is plural, the verb must change to gustan, as in te gustan los libros. This reinforces the idea that the object is the subject of the sentence. Using te gusta correctly marks the transition from a beginner who translates word-for-word to a learner who understands the internal logic of the Spanish language.

¿Te gusta el helado de vainilla?

Translation: Do you like vanilla ice cream?

Sé que te gusta bailar.

Translation: I know that you like to dance.

A ti te gusta viajar mucho.

Translation: You (specifically) like to travel a lot.

No te gusta la lluvia.

Translation: You do not like the rain.

¿Qué te gusta hacer los domingos?

Translation: What do you like to do on Sundays?

Mastering the use of te gusta requires a shift in how you perceive sentence structure. In English, we say 'You like the book.' In Spanish, the book is the one performing the action of 'pleasing' you. Therefore, the sentence is structured as [Indirect Object Pronoun] + [Verb] + [Subject]. The most common pattern is Te gusta + [Singular Noun]. For example, Te gusta la playa (You like the beach). Notice that the definite article la is almost always required when talking about likes in a general sense. You cannot simply say Te gusta playa; it must be la playa. This is a common point of confusion for English speakers who are used to omitting the article in general statements.

With Infinitives: When followed by an action, use the infinitive form of the verb. Example: 'Te gusta leer' (You like to read).
Negation: To say you don't like something, place 'no' directly before the pronoun 'te'. Example: 'No te gusta el ruido'.
Emphasis with 'A ti': Use 'A ti' at the beginning to emphasize that it is YOU who likes it, often in contrast to someone else.

Another important aspect is the use of te gusta with verbs. When you want to say 'You like to [do something],' you use the infinitive form of the second verb. For instance, Te gusta correr (You like to run) or Te gusta estudiar español (You like to study Spanish). Even if you list multiple activities, the verb gusta usually stays in the singular form: Te gusta cantar y bailar. This is because the activities are treated as a single concept of 'doing things.' However, if you are listing multiple distinct nouns, you should switch to te gustan: Te gustan el café y el té. This subtle difference is a hallmark of advanced A1 and A2 proficiency. Furthermore, when asking questions, the word order remains the same as in a statement, but the vocal inflection rises at the end. ¿Te gusta la música clásica? is the standard way to ask if someone likes classical music. In responses, you can simply say Sí, me gusta or No, no me gusta, changing the pronoun to me because you are now speaking about yourself.

A ti te gusta mucho este restaurante.

Translation: You like this restaurant a lot.

¿No te gusta caminar por el parque?

Translation: Don't you like walking through the park?

Dime si te gusta el regalo.

Translation: Tell me if you like the gift.

You will encounter te gusta in a vast array of real-life situations, ranging from the most mundane to the deeply personal. In a social setting, such as a party or a first date, it is the primary tool for 'breaking the ice.' People will ask ¿Te gusta esta música? (Do you like this music?) or ¿Te gusta la comida? (Do you like the food?). It is also ubiquitous in retail and service environments. A shopkeeper might ask ¿Te gusta esta camisa? if they see you looking at a specific item, assuming a level of informal rapport often found in Spanish-speaking cultures. In family dynamics, parents constantly use it with their children: ¿Te gusta tu juguete nuevo? (Do you like your new toy?).

Social Media: On platforms like Instagram or Facebook, the 'Like' button is often translated as 'Me gusta', and you might see comments like 'Sé que te gusta' on shared posts.
Restaurants: Waiters in casual eateries might ask '¿Te gusta el plato?' to check on your satisfaction.
Travel: Locals will often ask tourists '¿Te gusta mi ciudad?' as a point of pride and conversation.

Beyond these literal uses, te gusta appears frequently in pop culture, especially in music lyrics. From reggaeton to romantic ballads, the phrase is used to describe attraction between people. However, a nuance arises here: when used with a person as the object (e.g., Te gusta Juan), it usually implies a romantic crush or physical attraction, rather than just 'liking' them as a person (for which caer bien is used). In movies and TV shows, you'll hear characters debating preferences or trying to convince each other of something's value using this phrase. It is also a staple in advertising; commercials often ask ¿Te gusta ahorrar? (Do you like to save?) to engage the consumer. Essentially, anywhere there is a discussion of preference, desire, or opinion in an informal context, te gusta will be present. It is a word that bridges the gap between simple observation and personal connection.

¿A poco no te gusta el picante?

Translation: Don't tell me you don't like spicy food? (Common in Mexico)

Mira este video, sé que te gusta este grupo.

Translation: Look at this video, I know you like this band.

The most frequent mistake English speakers make is trying to use tú as the subject. In English, 'You' is the subject of 'like,' so learners naturally want to say Tú gustas.... This is incorrect because gustar doesn't work that way. If you say Tú gustas, you are actually saying 'You are pleasing (to someone else),' which is rarely what you intend. Another common error is forgetting the indirect object pronoun te entirely. Beginners might say Gusta el café?, which is incomplete. You must include the pronoun to indicate *who* is being pleased.

The 'Yo Gusto' Error: Avoid saying 'Yo gusto' or 'Tú gustas' when you mean 'I like' or 'You like'. Use 'Me gusta' and 'Te gusta' instead.
Singular vs. Plural: Using 'gusta' with plural nouns. It must be 'te gustan los perros', not 'te gusta los perros'.
Missing Articles: Omitting 'el', 'la', 'los', or 'las'. Correct: 'Te gusta el chocolate'. Incorrect: 'Te gusta chocolate'.

Furthermore, learners often struggle with the placement of no. In Spanish, the negative particle must come before the entire verbal phrase. Therefore, it is No te gusta, never Te no gusta. Another nuance is the confusion between te gusta and te gustas. While te gusta means 'you like (it)', te gustas is reflexive and means 'you like yourself.' While grammatically correct, it has a completely different meaning and is much less common. Finally, be careful with the preposition a. If you use the emphatic form, you must say A ti te gusta. Many learners forget the a and say Ti te gusta, which is ungrammatical. Remembering that gustar belongs to a special class of verbs that 'flip' the subject and object will help you avoid these pitfalls and sound more like a native speaker.

Incorrect: Tú gustas el cine.
Correct: Te gusta el cine.

Incorrect: Te gusta los gatos.
Correct: Te gustan los gatos.

While te gusta is the standard way to express preference, Spanish offers a rich variety of alternatives that convey different levels of intensity or specific types of 'liking.' The most common step up from te gusta is te encanta. While gustar is 'to like,' encantar is 'to love' (in the sense of strongly liking an object or activity). It follows the exact same grammatical structure: Te encanta la pizza (You love pizza). Another alternative, particularly common in Spain, is te mola. This is a colloquial, slangy way of saying 'you like' or 'you think it's cool.' For example, ¿Te mola mi coche nuevo? (Do you dig my new car?).

Te encanta: Stronger than 'te gusta'. Used for things you are passionate about.
Te mola: Informal slang, mostly in Spain. Equivalent to 'you think it's cool'.
Te cae bien: Used specifically for people to mean 'you like them' in a friendly, non-romantic way.
Te apasiona: Used for hobbies or subjects you are deeply passionate about.

If you want to express that something interests you rather than just pleasing you, you can use te interesa. For example, Te interesa la historia (You are interested in history). If something fascinates you, use te fascina. All of these verbs—encantar, molar, interesar, fascinar, apasionar—function exactly like gustar. They all require the indirect object pronoun te and agree with the object that follows. On the negative side, if you want to say you dislike something strongly, you might use te disgusta (though this is less common than just saying no te gusta) or te choca (common in Mexico for 'it bothers/annoys you'). Understanding these alternatives allows you to be more precise in your speech and better understand the emotional weight behind what others are saying. Choosing between te gusta and te encanta can change the entire tone of a conversation from polite interest to shared enthusiasm.

Sé que te encanta viajar por Europa.

Translation: I know you love traveling through Europe.

¿Te cae bien mi primo?

Translation: Do you like my cousin? (Friendly/Platonic)

How Formal Is It?

Formel

Neutre

Informel

Child friendly

Argot

Le savais-tu ?

The shift from 'tasting' to 'liking' is common in many languages, but Spanish is unique in how it kept the 'it pleases me' structure while English switched to 'I like it'.

Guide de prononciation

UK /te ˈɡusta/

US /te ˈɡustə/

The stress is on the first syllable of 'gusta' (GUS-ta).

Rime avec

asusta ajusta injusta robusta fusta vetusta angusta adusta

Erreurs fréquentes

Pronouncing 'te' like 'tea'. It should be a short 'e' sound.
Pronouncing the 'u' in 'gusta' like the 'u' in 'cup'. It should be an 'oo' sound.
Adding an 's' to 'te' (tes gusta).
Pronouncing 'gusta' with a soft 'g' like 'j'.
Over-emphasizing the 'te' instead of the 'gusta'.

Niveau de difficulté

Lecture 1/5

Very easy to recognize in text once you know the structure.

Écriture 3/5

Difficult for beginners to remember to use 'te' instead of 'tú' and to include articles.

Expression orale 3/5

Requires mental flipping of the English 'I like' logic in real-time.

Écoute 2/5

Easy to hear, but can be confused with 'te gustas' or 'te gustan' if not careful.

Quoi apprendre ensuite

Prérequis

tú el/la yo me ser

Apprends ensuite

te gustan me gusta le gusta te encanta te gustaría

Avancé

te parece te queda te duele te importa te molesta

Grammaire à connaître

Indirect Object Pronouns

Te (to you), Me (to me), Le (to him/her).

Verb Agreement with Subject

Gusta (singular subject), Gustan (plural subject).

Definite Articles with Generalizations

Te gusta EL chocolate (General preference requires 'el').

Infinitive as Subject

Te gusta CORRER (The act of running is the subject).

Prepositional Pronouns for Emphasis

A TI te gusta (Using 'a ti' to emphasize 'you').

Exemples par niveau

¿Te gusta el chocolate?

Do you like chocolate?

Simple question with a singular noun.

Te gusta bailar.

You like to dance.

Used with an infinitive verb.

No te gusta el frío.

You don't like the cold.

Negative construction with 'no' before 'te'.

¿Te gusta mi perro?

Do you like my dog?

Question with a singular noun and possessive adjective.

Te gusta mucho el café.

You like coffee a lot.

Use of 'mucho' to intensify the preference.

A ti te gusta la playa.

You (specifically) like the beach.

Emphatic 'a ti' added to the start.

¿Qué te gusta comer?

What do you like to eat?

Interrogative pronoun 'qué' used with the phrase.

Te gusta estudiar español.

You like to study Spanish.

Phrase followed by an infinitive and a noun.

¿Te gusta la nueva película?

Do you like the new movie?

Using an adjective with the noun.

Sé que te gusta viajar solo.

I know you like to travel alone.

Embedded clause starting with 'Sé que'.

A ti te gusta más el té que el café.

You like tea more than coffee.

Comparative structure using 'más... que'.

¿Te gusta cómo canta ella?

Do you like how she sings?

Followed by a subordinate clause.

No te gusta nada la cebolla.

You don't like onion at all.

Use of 'nada' for strong negation.

A veces te gusta caminar de noche.

Sometimes you like to walk at night.

Frequency adverb 'a veces' used.

¿Te gusta este color para la sala?

Do you like this color for the living room?

Contextual use in a home setting.

Te gusta pasar tiempo con tu familia.

You like to spend time with your family.

Compound infinitive phrase.

¿Te gustaría ir a cenar mañana?

Would you like to go to dinner tomorrow?

Conditional mood for polite invitations.

Me alegra que te guste el libro.

I'm glad you like the book.

Present subjunctive after an expression of emotion.

Si te gusta el arte, debes visitar este museo.

If you like art, you should visit this museum.

Conditional 'si' clause.

No creo que te guste ese tipo de música.

I don't think you like that type of music.

Subjunctive after 'no creo que'.

Te gusta que todo esté en orden.

You like everything to be in order.

Subjunctive in the subordinate clause.

¿Te gusta cómo quedó la decoración?

Do you like how the decoration turned out?

Using the preterite in a subordinate clause.

Parece que te gusta mucho tu trabajo.

It seems like you like your job a lot.

Observation using 'Parece que'.

Te gusta leer antes de dormir, ¿verdad?

You like to read before sleeping, right?

Tag question '¿verdad?' for confirmation.

Espero que te guste lo que he preparado.

I hope you like what I have prepared.

Subjunctive with present perfect in the relative clause.

Aunque te gusta el riesgo, esto es demasiado.

Even though you like risk, this is too much.

Concessive clause with 'aunque'.

¿Te gusta que te digan la verdad siempre?

Do you like people to always tell you the truth?

Passive-like structure with the subjunctive.

Por mucho que te guste, no podemos comprarlo.

No matter how much you like it, we can't buy it.

Adverbial clause of concession.

Te gusta sentirte útil en la comunidad.

You like to feel useful in the community.

Reflexive infinitive 'sentirte'.

¿Te gusta el rumbo que está tomando tu vida?

Do you like the direction your life is taking?

Abstract noun 'rumbo' with a relative clause.

Dudo que te guste el clima de Londres.

I doubt you'll like the London weather.

Subjunctive after 'Dudo que'.

Te gusta que te sorprendan de vez en cuando.

You like to be surprised every now and then.

Subjunctive expressing a general preference for an action.

A juzgar por tu sonrisa, te gusta la propuesta.

Judging by your smile, you like the proposal.

Introductory participial phrase.

No es que no te guste, es que te asusta.

It's not that you don't like it, it's that it scares you.

Contrastive subjunctive structure.

Te gusta regodearte en tus pequeños éxitos.

You like to gloat over your small successes.

Sophisticated verb 'regodearte'.

Sea como sea, sé que te gusta llevar la contraria.

Be that as it may, I know you like to disagree.

Idiomatic expression 'llevar la contraria'.

¿Te gusta el cariz que están tomando los acontecimientos?

Do you like the turn that events are taking?

High-level vocabulary 'cariz'.

Te gusta que se reconozca tu valía profesional.

You like your professional worth to be recognized.

Impersonal 'se' in a subjunctive clause.

Pese a que te gusta la soledad, hoy pareces triste.

Despite the fact that you like solitude, you seem sad today.

Concessive connector 'pese a que'.

Te gusta desentrañar los misterios de la ciencia.

You like to unravel the mysteries of science.

Literary verb 'desentrañar'.

Se nota a la legua que te gusta el refinamiento.

It's obvious from a mile away that you like refinement.

Idiomatic expression 'a la legua'.

Te gusta imbuirte de la cultura local cuando viajas.

You like to soak up the local culture when you travel.

Sophisticated reflexive verb 'imbuirte'.

¿Te gusta la impronta que ha dejado este autor en ti?

Do you like the mark this author has left on you?

Abstract literary term 'impronta'.

Te gusta que la justicia prevalezca sobre el interés.

You like justice to prevail over self-interest.

Subjunctive with abstract philosophical concepts.

A ti te gusta el riesgo, pero esto roza la temeridad.

You like risk, but this borders on recklessness.

Nuanced distinction between risk and recklessness.

Te gusta deleitarte con los matices de un buen vino.

You like to delight in the nuances of a good wine.

Reflexive verb 'deleitarte' with 'con'.

No es que te guste el caos, es que te nutres de él.

It's not that you like chaos, it's that you thrive on it.

Metaphorical use of 'nutrirse'.

Te gusta que tus acciones tengan un calado profundo.

You like your actions to have a deep impact.

Subjunctive with the metaphorical 'calado'.

Collocations courantes

te gusta mucho

te gusta poco

te gusta más

te gusta bailar

te gusta viajar

te gusta leer

te gusta la música

te gusta el deporte

te gusta comer

te gusta salir

Phrases Courantes

¿Te gusta?

Si te gusta...

Lo que te gusta

Como te gusta

Todo lo que te gusta

Sé que te gusta

No te gusta nada

A ti te gusta

¿Te gusta así?

Haz lo que te gusta

Souvent confondu avec

Te gusta vs te gustas

This means 'you like yourself'. It is reflexive and much less common than 'te gusta'.

Te gusta vs tú gustas

This is grammatically incorrect for 'you like'. It would mean 'you are pleasing (to someone)'.

Te gusta vs te gustan

This is the plural form. Use it when you like more than one thing (e.g., 'te gustan los libros').

Expressions idiomatiques

"te gusta el mambo"

You like excitement, trouble, or a lively situation.

A ti te gusta el mambo, siempre estás en medio de las fiestas.

informal

"te gusta el riesgo"

You enjoy taking chances or living dangerously.

Escalar esa montaña sin cuerdas... ¡te gusta el riesgo!

neutral

"te gusta dar la nota"

You like to stand out or be the center of attention (often negatively).

Siempre vienes con ropa brillante, te gusta dar la nota.

informal

"te gusta llevar la voz cantante"

You like to be the leader or the one in control.

En los trabajos en grupo, siempre te gusta llevar la voz cantante.

neutral

"te gusta meter cizaña"

You like to stir up trouble or create conflict between people.

No le digas eso, solo te gusta meter cizaña.

informal

"te gusta vivir la vida loca"

You like to live a wild, carefree, or unconventional life.

Viajas sin planes y duermes donde sea, te gusta vivir la vida loca.

informal

"te gusta arrimar el ascua a su sardina"

You like to act in your own self-interest.

Siempre pides favores que te benefician, te gusta arrimar el ascua a tu sardina.

informal/idiomatic

"te gusta ir al grano"

You like to get straight to the point.

No me cuentes historias, sé que te gusta ir al grano.

neutral

"te gusta perder el tiempo"

You like to waste time (often used sarcastically).

Viendo esos videos todo el día, parece que te gusta perder el tiempo.

informal

"te gusta jugar con fuego"

You like to take dangerous risks.

Si sigues hablando así con el jefe, te gusta jugar con fuego.

informal

Facile à confondre

Te gusta vs querer

Both can mean 'to like' or 'to love'.

'Gustar' is for preferences/objects, while 'querer' is for wanting things or loving people.

Te gusta el helado (You like ice cream) vs. Quieres el helado (You want the ice cream).

Te gusta vs amar

Both express positive feelings.

'Amar' is deep romantic love, 'gustar' is just liking or attraction.

Te gusta María (You are attracted to her) vs. Amas a María (You love her deeply).

Te gusta vs caer bien

Both are used for liking people.

'Caer bien' is for platonic liking, 'gustar' is for romantic liking.

Te cae bien mi amigo (You like my friend) vs. Te gusta mi amigo (You have a crush on him).

Te gusta vs parecer

Both use indirect object pronouns.

'Parecer' is about opinion/appearance, 'gustar' is about pleasure.

Te parece bien (It seems good to you) vs. Te gusta (You like it).

Te gusta vs interesar

Both express a positive reaction.

'Interesar' is intellectual/practical interest, 'gustar' is emotional/sensory pleasure.

Te interesa el libro (It's interesting) vs. Te gusta el libro (You enjoy reading it).

Structures de phrases

Te gusta + [Noun]

Te gusta el pan.

Te gusta + [Infinitive]

Te gusta dormir.

A ti te gusta + [Noun]

A ti te gusta la nieve.

No te gusta + [Noun] + nada

No te gusta la sopa nada.

¿Te gustaría + [Infinitive]?

¿Te gustaría salir?

Me gusta que te guste + [Noun]

Me gusta que te guste mi casa.

Por mucho que te guste + [Noun]

Por mucho que te guste el coche, es caro.

Te gusta + [Infinitive] + de vez en cuando

Te gusta meditar de vez en cuando.

Famille de mots

Noms

Verbes

Adjectifs

Apparenté

Comment l'utiliser

frequency

Extremely high in daily conversation.

Erreurs courantes

Tú gustas el café. → Te gusta el café.
You cannot use the subject pronoun 'tú' as the subject of 'gustar'. You must use the indirect object pronoun 'te'.
Te gusta los perros. → Te gustan los perros.
Since 'los perros' is plural, the verb must also be plural ('gustan').
Te gusta chocolate. → Te gusta el chocolate.
In Spanish, general likes require a definite article (el, la, los, las).
Ti te gusta el cine. → A ti te gusta el cine.
If you use the emphatic 'ti', you must include the preposition 'a'.
Te no gusta bailar. → No te gusta bailar.
The word 'no' must always come before the pronoun 'te'.

Astuces

The 'Flip' Rule

Always remember that the object is the subject. If you can say 'It pleases you' in English, you can say 'Te gusta' in Spanish. This mental flip is the key to mastering the verb.

Articles are Mandatory

Never leave out 'el', 'la', 'los', or 'las'. In Spanish, you like 'THE' things, not just 'things'. 'Te gusta el chocolate' is the only correct way.

Short 'E'

The 'te' in 'te gusta' is a short, crisp sound. Don't drag it out like the English word 'tea'. It should sound more like the start of 'tell'.

Friendship vs. Romance

To avoid awkward situations, use 'te cae bien' for friends and 'te gusta' for crushes. This is a very important cultural and linguistic distinction.

Negation Placement

Always put 'no' before 'te'. 'No te gusta' is correct. 'Te no gusta' is a common mistake that sounds very broken to native ears.

Emphasis with 'A ti'

If you want to sound more natural during a debate, start your sentence with 'A ti te gusta...'. It makes your statement sound more grounded and clear.

Listen for the Plural

Train your ear to catch the 'n' in 'gustan'. It's a small sound but it changes the meaning from liking one thing to liking many things.

Infinitives are Singular

Even if you like five different activities, use 'gusta' (singular). 'Te gusta correr, saltar y nadar' is correct. The activities are treated as one concept.

The Gusto Connection

Connect 'gustar' to the English word 'gusto'. If you do something with gusto, you enjoy it. 'Te gusta' means you have 'gusto' for it.

Try 'Te Mola'

If you are in Spain, try using 'te mola' with people your own age. It will make you sound much more like a local and less like a textbook.

Mémorise-le

Moyen mnémotechnique

Think of 'te' as 'to you' and 'gusta' as 'gusto'. So, 'Te gusta' means 'To you it gives gusto (pleasure)'.

Association visuelle

Imagine a person pointing at you (te) and then giving a thumbs up to a giant taco (gusta).

Word Web

me gusta le gusta nos gusta os gusta les gusta te gustan te gustó te gustaría

Défi

Try to find 5 things in your room and say 'Te gusta [object]' to an imaginary friend for each one, making sure to use the correct article (el/la).

Origine du mot

The phrase comes from the Spanish pronoun 'te' (from Latin 'te') and the verb 'gustar' (from Latin 'gustare', meaning 'to taste').

Sens originel : In Latin, 'gustare' meant to taste or to sample food. Over time, the meaning evolved from physical tasting to a more general sense of finding something pleasing.

Romance (Indo-European).

Contexte culturel

Be careful using 'te gusta' with people. It usually implies romantic attraction. Use 'te cae bien' for friends.

English speakers often struggle because they want to be the subject. In English, 'I like' is active. In Spanish, 'Me gusta' is more passive/receptive.

The song 'Me Gustas Tú' by Manu Chao (though it uses 'me', it's the most famous example of the structure). Common phrase in Spanish dubbed movies: '¿Te gusta lo que ves?' (Do you like what you see?). Social media 'Like' buttons in Spanish-speaking regions.

Pratique dans la vie réelle

Contextes réels

At a restaurant

¿Te gusta la comida?
¿Te gusta el vino?
¿Te gusta este postre?
No te gusta el picante.

Meeting someone new

¿Te gusta vivir aquí?
¿Te gusta tu trabajo?
¿Te gusta la música rock?
¿Qué deportes te gusta hacer?

Shopping

¿Te gusta este vestido?
¿Te gusta el color rojo?
Sé que te gusta esa marca.
¿No te gusta el precio?

Hobby discussion

Te gusta mucho leer.
¿Te gusta jugar al fútbol?
A ti te gusta pintar.
¿Te gusta viajar en tren?

Giving a gift

Espero que te guste.
¿Te gusta el regalo?
Dime si te gusta.
Sé que te gusta el arte.

Amorces de conversation

"¿Te gusta la música que está sonando ahora?"

"¿Te gusta más el verano o el invierno?"

"¿Te gusta cocinar para tus amigos el fin de semana?"

"¿Te gusta la ciudad donde vives actualmente?"

"¿Qué es lo que más te gusta de tu trabajo?"

Sujets d'écriture

Escribe sobre una comida que te gusta mucho y por qué.

Describe un lugar que te gusta visitar cuando estás estresado.

Haz una lista de tres actividades que te gusta hacer solo.

¿Te gusta aprender idiomas? Explica tu motivación.

Escribe sobre una película que te gusta y recomiéndala a un amigo.

Questions fréquentes

10 questions

In Spanish, the verb 'gustar' works backwards compared to English. The thing you like is the subject, and you are the indirect object. So, 'te gusta' literally means 'it pleases you'. 'Tú' is a subject pronoun, but here we need 'te', which is an indirect object pronoun.

You use 'te gustan' when the things you like are plural. For example, 'Te gustan las manzanas' (You like apples) because 'manzanas' is plural. If it's just one apple, you say 'Te gusta la manzana'.

Yes, in Spanish, when you talk about liking something in general, you must use the definite article. You say 'Te gusta el café', not 'Te gusta café'. This is a very common mistake for English speakers.

Simply put 'no' before the 'te'. The phrase becomes 'No te gusta'. For example, 'No te gusta la lluvia' (You don't like the rain).

Yes, but be careful! If you say 'Te gusta Juan', it usually means you have a romantic crush on him. If you just want to say you like him as a friend, use 'Te cae bien Juan'.

It means the same as 'Te gusta', but the 'A ti' adds emphasis. It's like saying 'YOU like it' (as opposed to someone else). It's very common in conversation.

In Spanish, you don't need to change the word order. You just use the same words and make it sound like a question: '¿Te gusta?'. Your voice should rise at the end.

Yes! You can follow 'te gusta' with an infinitive verb (the basic form). For example, 'Te gusta correr' (You like to run) or 'Te gusta viajar' (You like to travel).

It is informal. It uses the 'tú' form of the pronoun. If you want to be formal (speaking to a stranger or a boss), you should use 'le gusta'.

'Te gusta' means 'you like', while 'te encanta' is much stronger, meaning 'you love' or 'you are enchanted by'. Both use the same grammatical structure.