Inklingo

How to Say "to like" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “to like” is “gustar” — use this for general preferences of things, activities, or concepts, often when the thing being liked is the subject of the sentence.

English → Spanish

gustar

goos-TARɡusˈtaɾ

verbA1general
Use this for general preferences of things, activities, or concepts, often when the thing being liked is the subject of the sentence.
A smiling child holds a bright red apple, showing clear enjoyment and preference for the fruit.

Examples

Me gusta mucho el chocolate.

I really like chocolate. (Literally: Chocolate is very pleasing to me.)

Nos gustan las películas de acción.

We like action movies. (The verb 'gustan' is plural because 'películas' is plural.)

¿Te gusta viajar a otros países?

Do you like traveling to other countries?

The 'Backwards' Verb Rule

Unlike English, the person doing the liking is not the main subject. The thing being liked is the subject, and the verb must agree with it. Use 'gusta' for singular things/activities, and 'gustan' for plural things.

The Required 'Me/Te/Le' Structure

You MUST use the small pronoun (me, te, le, nos, os, les) to show who is doing the liking. This pronoun is essential and cannot be dropped.

Using 'Yo gusto' to say 'I like'

Mistake: “Yo gusto el café.”

Correction: Me gusta el café. (The correct way is 'The coffee is pleasing to me.')

Forgetting the Plural Form

Mistake: “Me gusta los perros.”

Correction: Me gustan los perros. (Since 'perros' is plural, the verb must be 'gustan.')

disfrutar

dis-fru-TARdis.fɾuˈtaɾ

verbA1general
Use this when you are actively experiencing and enjoying something, like a vacation, a meal, or an event.
A child sits happily under a tree, taking a bite out of a bright red apple with a wide smile, illustrating the concept of enjoyment.

Examples

¿Estás disfrutando de tus vacaciones?

Are you enjoying your vacation?

Disfruto mucho leer libros de historia.

I really enjoy reading history books.

Ella disfruta la tranquilidad de vivir en el campo.

She enjoys the quietness of living in the countryside.

Using 'de' (Optional)

You can use 'disfrutar' either directly with the thing you enjoy ('disfrutar la música') or by adding 'de' ('disfrutar de la música'). Both ways are correct, but using 'de' is often slightly more common or formal in some regions.

Reflexive Use for 'Enjoy Yourself'

If you want to say 'enjoy yourself' (meaning 'have a good time'), you use the reflexive form: '¡Que te disfrutes!' or '¡Que lo disfrutes!' (Enjoy it!).

Mixing up 'Enjoy' and 'Like'

Mistake: “Me disfruto el chocolate. (I enjoy the chocolate.)”

Correction: Disfruto el chocolate. OR Me gusta el chocolate. (I like the chocolate.) 'Disfrutar' usually refers to experiencing pleasure during an action, not just a general preference.

molar

mo-LARmoˈlaɾ

verbB1informal
Use this informal verb, common in Spain, to express that you find something cool, awesome, or very pleasing, similar to 'gustar'.
A happy character wearing stylish sunglasses and a leather jacket giving a thumbs up.

Examples

¡Esa chaqueta mola un montón!

That jacket is so cool!

Me mola tu nueva casa.

I really like your new house.

Antes nos molaba ir al cine los domingos.

We used to love going to the movies on Sundays.

The 'Gustar' Rule

Just like the word 'gustar,' this verb focuses on the object. Instead of saying 'I like the book,' you are essentially saying 'The book is cool to me' (Me mola el libro).

Mostly Spain

While understood elsewhere, this is the go-to slang for 'cool' specifically in Spain. In Mexico, they might say 'charlar' or 'latir' instead.

Don't use it like 'Love'

Mistake: “Yo molo este juego.”

Correction: Me mola este juego. (Remember, the game is the thing doing the 'cool' action to you!)

agradar

ah-grah-dahraɣɾaˈðar

verbB1formal
Employ this more formal or elegant verb when expressing that something or someone pleases you, often in written or more polite contexts.
A child smiling with joy while eating a delicious red apple.

Examples

Me agrada mucho tu compañía.

I like your company very much. (Your company pleases me.)

No le agrada que fumen en la oficina.

It doesn't please him that people smoke in the office.

Sus palabras agradaron a todo el público.

His words pleased the entire audience.

The 'Gustar' Structure

This verb usually works 'backward' like 'gustar'. Instead of saying 'I please it', you say 'It pleases me' using words like 'me', 'te', 'le', 'nos', 'os', or 'les' before the verb.

Using 'que' with the Special Verb Form

If you say 'It pleases me that [someone does something]', the second verb must change its form (the subjunctive). For example: 'Me agrada que estés aquí' (It pleases me that you are here).

Using it like 'I like' in English

Mistake: “Yo agrado este libro.”

Correction: Me agrada este libro. In Spanish, the book does the pleasing to you.

latir

la-TEERlaˈtiɾ

verbB2informal
Use this colloquial verb to express a strong feeling or intuition that you find something appealing or likely to happen.
A person looking thoughtful with a glowing lightbulb appearing softly in a thought bubble above their head.

Examples

Me late que vamos a ganar.

I have a feeling that we are going to win.

Ese chico no me late nada.

I don't get a good vibe from that guy / I don't like that guy.

Gustar vs. Disfrutar

The most common confusion is between 'gustar' and 'disfrutar'. Remember, 'gustar' is for general preferences (I like pizza), while 'disfrutar' implies active enjoyment of an experience (I am enjoying the concert).

Related Translations

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