Using gustar in Spanish to say you like something

"To like" in Spanish: gustar

In Spanish, to express like or dislike we use the verb gustar. 
It works differently to the way it is expressed in English.

Have a look and listen to this example:

Me gusta el chocolate.I like chocolate.

Notice how in English it is a straightforward sentence:

Subject (I) + verb (like) + what is liked (chocolate)

In Spanish however the order is different. If we translate it literally we would say: Chocolate pleases me,  with chocolate being the subject of the sentence.

If what the person likes is plural, then you need to add an -n to the verb:

Me gustan los plátanos.I like bananas.

Have a look at these tables:

Me gusta (I like)                   +   [singular noun]     
Te gusta   (You like)             +   [singular noun]
Me gustan (I like)             +   [plural noun]
Te gustan (You like)       +   [plural noun]

Notice that in Spanish we use definite articles with the thing/s that one likes, unless you are talking about a place or a person. 

Me gusta Barcelona.I like Barcelona.

Te gustan las manzanas.You like apples.

If you want to ask someone whether he/she likes something, just remember to add the question marks and change the intonation.

Have a look and listen to this example:

¿Te gusta la Navidad?Do you like Christmas?

The answer can be positive or negative:

, me gusta la Navidad.Yes, I like Christmas.

No, no me gusta la Navidad.No, I do not like Christmas.

Notice how in the negative answer we have added a  no at the beginning of the sentence.

Here are other negative answers as examples:

No, no me gusta la paella.No, I do not like paella.

No me gustan las verduras.I do not like vegetables.

No te gusta la profesora de historia.You do not like the History teacher.

See also Using gustar in Spanish + verb to say like [doing something] and Using gustar to say you like something (he likes, she likes, we like, you like, they like) 

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Examples and resources

¿Te gusta el té?Do you like tea?
No te gusta la casa.You do not like the house.
No me gustan los churros.I do not like churros.
No, no me gusta la paella.No, I do not like paella.
Me gusta Barcelona.I like Barcelona.
Te gustan las manzanas.You like apples.
No me gustan las verduras.I do not like vegetables.
No te gusta la profesora de historia.You do not like the History teacher.
No, no me gusta la Navidad.No, I do not like Christmas.
¿Te gusta la Navidad?Do you like Christmas?
, me gusta la Navidad.Yes, I like Christmas.
Me gusta el chocolate.I like chocolate.
Te gusta la casa.You like the house.
Me gustan los plátanos.I like bananas.
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