Degrees of preference

Me encanta Granada

After having learned all variety of forms of the verb gustar, let’s have a look at how you can express different degrees of preference and sympathy in Spanish – from I adore to I hate.

Me encanta

encantar – to adore, to love

This verb works just like gustar. You should use dative pronouns with it.

Me encanta jugar al futbol — I love playing football

A mi padre le encantan los coches japoneses — My father loves Japanese cars

Me encantas – I adore you

Encantar has the same root as the English to enchant.

Me encantas – literally, You enchant me. You charm me

Don’t say: Yo encanto a ti

Try it yourself:

I love watching TV

They love walking in the city center

Luis loves blue shirts

My friends love playing video games

Me gusta mucho

gustar mucho – to like a lot

This one is pretty simple.

A los niños les gustan mucho los caramelos — Children like candies a lot

Me gustas mucho — I like you a lot

Don’t say: Me gusta muy

Try it yourself:

You like driving a lot

We like you (vosotros) a lot

Me gusta bastante

gustar bastante – to like well enough

Me gusta bastante – I like it well enough

A nosotros nos gusta bastante la música pop – We like pop music well enough

Maybe in English this expression isn’t very common, in Spanish it’s widely used.

Try it yourself:

I like bananas well enough

Yo prefiero

preferir – to prefer

Unlike gustar and encantar, the verb preferir is used as a simple verb. There is nothing special about it. It’s an irregular one, though, with the e – ie modification.

¿Qué prefiere usted, té o café? – What do you prefer, tea or coffee?

Prefiero café – I prefer coffee

Prefiero quedarme en casa – I prefer to stay at home

Try it yourself:

We prefer to go to the movies on Mondays

What do you prefer?

Me apetece

apetecer – would like

This one is used like gustar and encantar.

¿Te apetece tomar un café conmigo? – Would you like to drink some coffee with me?

¿Os apetece ir al teatro? – Would you like to go to the theater?

Try it yourself:

I would like to have lunch in that restaurant

What would you like, wine or martini?

No me gusta mucho

no gustar mucho – don’t really like

No me gusta mucho este plato – I don’t really like this dish

Try it yourself:

Sara doesn’t really like my new suit

No me gusta nada

no gustar nada – don’t like at all

No nos gusta nada la situación en el Parlamento inglés – We don’t like the situation at the English Parlament at all

Try it yourself:

I don’t like these guys at all

Yo odio

odiar – to hate

Odiar is conjugated as a simple regular verb.

Odio la leche con miel — I hate milk with honey

¿Por qué odias tanto a Ricardo? — Why do you hate Ricardo so much?

Try it yourself:

We hate Carlos

They hate to fly on an airplane