gusta

Gusta is the present indicative form of the Spanish verb gustar, used to express liking or enjoyment. The verb gustar is different from many transitive verbs in that the person who experiences the liking is expressed with an indirect object pronoun (me, te, le, nos, os, les), while the thing that is liked becomes the syntactic subject of the clause. For example, “Me gusta el chocolate” literally means “Chocolate is pleasing to me.”

Because gustar’s subject is the thing liked, the form changes with the number of that thing. With a singular subject or with an infinitive, you use gusta. With plural subjects, you use gustan. Examples: “Me gusta la música” (I like music), “Me gustan las canciones” (I like the songs), “Me gusta leer” (I like to read).

Common constructions include adding a variable for emphasis, such as “A mí me gusta” or “A ellos les gusta,” which clarifies or emphasizes who experiences the liking. Questions are formed similarly: “¿Te gusta?” or “¿Qué te gusta?” The verb can also be used with different indirect objects to express preferences in different contexts, such as “Le gusta viajar” or “Nos gustan las películas.”

Gusta belongs to a family of verbs that express preference and is often learned together with its pronunciation and related forms, like gustó (past tense) and gustaría (conditional mood). It is a foundational element for expressing tastes, hobbies, and everyday preferences in Spanish.