gustaba
“gustaba” means “I used to like” in Spanish (When the object liked is singular, e.g., 'Me gustaba el fútbol' (I used to like soccer)).
I used to like, He/She/It likedAlso: It was pleasing
📝 In Action
A mi padre le gustaba mucho la música clásica cuando era joven.
A2My father really liked classical music when he was young.
Antes, me gustaba ir al mercado todos los sábados.
A2Before, I used to like going to the market every Saturday.
¿A ti te gustaba la escuela cuando vivías aquí?
B1Did you like school when you lived here?
Word Connections
Indicative
Present
Imperfect
Preterite
Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: gustaba
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly uses 'gustaba' to describe a repetitive past action?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family
📚 Etymology
The Spanish verb *gustar* comes from the Latin verb *gustare*, which originally meant 'to taste' or 'to try.' The meaning shifted in Spanish and Portuguese to convey the feeling of pleasure derived from that taste, evolving into 'to be pleasing' or 'to like.'
First recorded: 13th century (in its infinitive form)
Cognates (Related words)
💡 Master Spanish
Take your Spanish to the next level. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories tailored to your level with the Inklingo app!
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I use 'gustaba' (imperfect) versus 'gustó' (simple past)?
Use 'gustaba' when you are talking about something you liked generally, habitually, or over a long period in the past (e.g., I used to like that show). Use 'gustó' only when referring to a single, completed moment of liking (e.g., I liked that movie we saw yesterday).
Why does 'gustaba' mean 'I liked' and 'he/she liked'?
'Gustaba' is the third-person singular form, meaning it pairs with a singular thing or activity. Since Spanish uses the indirect object pronouns (me, te, le), the 'le' can mean 'to him,' 'to her,' or 'to you formal.' The single verb form 'gustaba' simply states that the singular thing *was pleasing* to whoever is indicated by the pronoun.