placer
“placer” means “pleasure” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
pleasure
Also: delight, joy
📝 In Action
Es un placer conocerte.
A1It's a pleasure to meet you.
Leer un buen libro me da mucho placer.
B1Reading a good book gives me a lot of pleasure.
El verdadero placer está en las pequeñas cosas.
B2The real pleasure is in the little things.
to please
Also: to be pleasing
📝 In Action
Si le place, podemos comenzar la reunión.
C1If it pleases you, we can begin the meeting.
No hay nada que más me plazca que un día soleado.
C2There is nothing that pleases me more than a sunny day.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: placer
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence is the most natural and common way to say "It's a pleasure to meet you" in modern Spanish?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin word 'placēre', which means 'to be pleasing' or 'to be acceptable'. It's the source of many words related to satisfaction and agreement in Romance languages.
First recorded: Around the 10th century.
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
When should I use the verb 'placer' instead of 'gustar'?
Almost never in daily conversation. 'Gustar' is the go-to verb for 'to like'. You might see the verb 'placer' in classic literature, poetry, or in extremely formal, almost ceremonial situations. For 99.9% of your Spanish conversations, stick with 'gustar'.
Is 'placer' always a good thing?
Yes, as a noun, 'placer' refers to a positive feeling of enjoyment, joy, or satisfaction. It doesn't have a negative meaning.