gústame
Liking with Gustar
To say you like something, say Gústame + the thing: Gústame o mar (I like the sea). If the thing is plural, the verb is plural: Gústanme os gatos.
How It Works
How it works. Literally, Gústame o café says "coffee pleases me". The thing you like is the subject, so the verb agrees with it:
- one thing or an activity: gusta. Gústame o café. Gústame bailar.
- several things: gustan. Gústanme os libros.
Who likes it. The person is an indirect object pronoun: gústame, gústache, gústalle, gústanos, gústavos, gústalles. For you, the form is che, never te, because the person is an indirect object (see te vs che).
Where the pronoun goes. In a plain statement and in a yes/no question, it is joined to the end of the verb (see pronouns after the verb). Gusta + me becomes gústame, which now needs a written accent. After non or a question word like que, it goes in front: Non me gusta, Que che gusta? (see pronouns before the verb after non and pronouns in questions with a question word).
Use the article. When you like something in general, the noun keeps its article: Gústame o café, Gústanme os gatos.
Naming the person. To name or stress who likes it, add a + the person, and keep the pronoun too: Á miña nai gústalle o mar, A min gústame (see stressed pronouns). Verbs like encantar and doer work the same way (see verbs like gustar).
An older pattern. In traditional and literary Galician you may also meet gusto de ler (I like reading), where the person is the subject. See gustar de.
Examples (6)
- Gústame o café.
I like coffee.
The pronoun me is joined to the end of gusta.
- Gústanme moito os libros de aventuras.
I really like adventure books.
Gustan is plural because os libros is plural.
- Gústache bailar?
Do you like dancing?
In a yes/no question the pronoun stays after the verb.
- Non me gusta a chuvia.
I don't like the rain.
Non pulls the pronoun in front of the verb.
- Á miña nai gústalle o mar.
My mother likes the sea.
Á is a + a. The pronoun lle is still needed.
- Que vos gusta facer os domingos?
What do you all like to do on Sundays?
The question word que pulls the pronoun in front of the verb.
Common Mistakes
Starting the sentence with the pronoun.
Me gusta o café.Gústame o café.In a plain statement the pronoun goes after the verb and joins it. A Galician sentence never begins with me, che or lle.
Making gustar agree with the person instead of the thing liked.
Gústame os libros.Gústanme os libros.Os libros is plural and is the subject, so the verb is gustan.
Using te instead of che.
Gústate o chocolate?Gústache o chocolate?With gustar, you are the indirect object, so the pronoun is che. Te is only for direct objects.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Gustar makes the liked thing the subject and marks the person with a short pronoun.
Related Patterns
- dóeme / encántameVerbs Like Gustar
Other verbs that work just like gustar.
Level 2 - me / che / lle / nos / vos / llesIndirect Object Pronouns
The pronouns that show who likes something.
Level 2 - te / cheTe vs. Che
Explains why it is gústache and not gústate.
Level 2 - Pronouns After the Verb
Explains why the pronoun joins the end of the verb.
Level 2 - Pronouns Before the Verb After Negatives
Explains why non me gusta has the pronoun in front.
Level 2 - a min taménStressed Pronouns for Emphasis
Add a min, a ti or a person to stress who likes it.
Level 2
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice gústame in Bubblegum
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