If you’re learning Spanish and taking classes at Carmen Vega Spanish School, you’ve probably already come across the verb “gustar” — the most common way to say to like.
But sometimes you’ll also hear “agradar” or “encantar,” and that’s when confusion kicks in 😅
Don’t worry — we’ll break it all down for you with simple explanations, real examples, and a few mistakes to avoid 😉
❤️ Gustar: The Essential Verb for “To Like”
This is the verb you’ll use most often.
But here’s the tricky part: in Spanish, it’s not you who likes something — it’s the thing that pleases you.
👉 Literally, in Spanish you say:
“The thing pleases me,”
not “I like the thing.”
🔹 Examples
- Me gusta el chocolate. → I like chocolate.
- Te gusta bailar. → You like dancing.
- Nos gustan las montañas. → We like the mountains.
⚠️ Be careful! The verb agrees with the thing that is liked, not the person.
- Me gusta el café. → singular
- Me gustan los cafés. → plural
❌ Common Mistakes
- ❌ Yo gusto el chocolate. → 🚫 Nope!
- ✔️ Me gusta el chocolate. → ✅ Perfect!
😊 Agradar: A More Polite or Formal Way to Say “To Please”
Agradar has a meaning very close to gustar, but it sounds more formal and is often used in polite or written contexts.
🔹 Examples
- Me agrada tu compañía. → I enjoy your company.
- Nos agrada que vengas. → We’re pleased that you came.
- Le agrada la música clásica. → He/she likes classical music.
You’ll often see agradar in newspapers, professional settings, or written Spanish.
In everyday speech, people use gustar much more frequently.
🤩 Encantar: When You Absolutely Love Something!
When to like isn’t strong enough, it’s time for encantar!
This is the verb you use to say you love or adore something.
🔹 Examples
- Me encanta el café boliviano. → I love Bolivian coffee.
- Nos encantan las fiestas de Cochabamba. → We love the festivals in Cochabamba.
- Te encanta viajar, ¿verdad? → You love traveling, right?
The structure is the same as gustar:
Me encanta / Me encantan depending on whether the thing is singular or plural.
⚖️ Summary
| Verb | Translation | Register | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gustar | to like, to please | common | Me gusta el español. |
| Agradar | to please, to be pleasant | formal | Me agrada tu voz. |
| Encantar | to love, to adore | casual / strong | Me encanta la comida boliviana. |
🎯 In Conclusion
All three verbs express a sense of pleasure or affection, but with different levels of intensity:
- gustar → I like
- agradar → it pleases me (more neutral or polite)
- encantar → I love / I adore
So next time you want to tell your teacher:
“I love your classes!”
make sure you say:
¡Me encantan tus clases! 🎓❤️