Using gustar to say you like doing something (he likes, she likes, we like, you like, they like)

"To like" in Spanish

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

For how to say "I like" and "You ["tú"] like" doing something see Using gustar in Spanish + verb to say like [doing something]

This lesson will teach you how to say:

"He likes", "She likes", "You ["usted"] like", "We like", "You ["vosotros"] like" and "They like" doing something.

Have a look at this table:

LE    gusta      (He likes / She likes / You ["usted"]like)
NOS   gusta   (We like)
OS*   gusta    (You ["vosotros"] like)
LES   gusta    (They like / You ["ustedes"] like) 

*note that the pronoun "os" is only used in Spain, not Latin America,  to refer to a informal plural you.

What the person likes doing is expressed with an infinitive (the verb in the -ar, -er, -ir form)

Notice how for he likes, she likes and you ["usted"] like doing something, we use the same pronoun "le".

Here are some examples:

¿Os gusta salir por la noche?Do you ["vosotros"] like going out in the evening?

Le gusta charlar con sus amigos.He/she/you ["usted"] like chatting with your/ his/ her friends.

Les gusta pasar tiempo en el jardin.They /you ["ustedes"] like spending time in the garden.

¿Le gusta ir al parque?Do you ["usted"] / Does he/she like going to the park?

¿Le gusta vivir en este barrio?Do you ["usted"]/Does he/she like living in this neighborhood?

Les gusta salir con las chicas.They/you ["ustedes"] like going out with the girls.

Le gusta comer pescado.He/she/you ["usted"] like eating fish.

Nos gusta practicar deportes.We like practising sports.

 

Extra pronouns

In order to either clarify who we are talking about or emphasise who is liking doing something, we can add extra pronouns with "a" in front:

A mí 

A ti

A él

A ella

A usted

A nosotros/-as

A vosotros/-as

A ellos/-as

A ustedes

These extra pronouns can be added at the beginning of the sentence if there is a need to clarify or emphasise who likes doing something:

For example:

A ellos les gusta salir con las chicas.They like going out with the girls.

A mí me gusta mucho vivir en este barrio.I like living in this neighborhood a lot.

When these pronouns are added, remember: you cannot omit the "short" ones.

It would be incorrect to say:

"A nosotras gusta tomar café."

Careful! it is a common mistake to use the reflexive pronoun "se" instead of "le", e.g "Se gusta mucho comer chocolate". Remember that the pronouns used with gusta are not reflexive pronouns; they are indirect object pronouns.

See also Using gustar in Spanish to say you like something

 

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Examples and resources

Nos gusta practicar deportes.We like practising sports.
A ellos les gusta salir con las chicas.They like going out with the girls.
¿Le gusta vivir en este barrio?Do you ["usted"]/Does he/she like living in this neighborhood?
A mí me gusta mucho vivir en este barrio.I like living in this neighborhood a lot.
Les gusta salir con las chicas.They/you ["ustedes"] like going out with the girls.
¿Le gusta ir al parque?Do you ["usted"] / Does he/she like going to the park?
Le gusta comer pescado.He/she/you ["usted"] like eating fish.
Le gusta charlar con sus amigos.He/she/you ["usted"] like chatting with your/ his/ her friends.
Les gusta pasar tiempo en el jardin.They /you ["ustedes"] like spending time in the garden.
¿Os gusta salir por la noche?Do you ["vosotros"] like going out in the evening?
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