Gustar: How to say you like something | Spanish grammar

Gustar works “backwards”: the thing you like is the subject, and the person who likes it is the indirect object. Literally, “me gusta el café” means “coffee pleases me”.

Quick rule

Look at what is liked: one thing or an activity → gusta. Several things → gustan.

The pattern

The pronoun shows who likes it; the verb agrees with what is liked.

Who	One thing	Several things
(a mí)	me gusta	me gustan
(a ti)	te gusta	te gustan
(a él / ella / usted)	le gusta	le gustan
(a nosotros)	nos gusta	nos gustan
(a vosotros)	os gusta	os gustan
(a ellos / ustedes)	les gusta	les gustan

Singular, plural and activities

With an infinitive (an activity), always use the singular, even with several activities.

Me gusta el café.I like coffee.
Me gustan los gatos.I like cats.
Nos gusta bailar y cantar.We like dancing and singing.

Clarity and emphasis with “a”

“A + person” adds emphasis or makes clear who “le” or “les” refers to. The pronoun stays.

A mí me encanta, pero a ella no le gusta.I love it, but she doesn’t like it.
A Juan le gusta mucho el cine.Juan really likes cinema.

Verbs that work like gustar

Encantar (to love), interesar (to interest), molestar (to bother), doler (to hurt), importar (to matter) and faltar (to be missing) follow the same pattern.

Me encanta la música latina.I love Latin music.
Me duele la cabeza.I have a headache.
¿Te importa si abro la ventana?Do you mind if I open the window?

Common mistakes

Wrong: Yo gusto el café. Right: Me gusta el café.

The coffee is the subject, you are the indirect object.
Wrong: Me gusta los libros. Right: Me gustan los libros.

Several things are liked: gustan.
Wrong: A Juan gusta el fútbol. Right: A Juan le gusta el fútbol.

The pronoun is needed even with “a Juan”.

Test yourself

Pick the right option. You get an explanation straight away.

1Me ___ las películas de terror.
2A mi padre ___ gusta cocinar.
3¿Te ___ bailar?
4Nos ___ los viajes largos.
5A ellos ___ interesa la política.