In this lesson, we will learn how to talk about what we like and dislike in Spanish.

Being able to share your likes and dislikes is important. It helps you have fun conversations about your hobbies, favorite things, or what you do every day.

Key Phrases for Likes and Dislikes:

1. Me gusta / No me gusta

   • Me gusta means "I like." Use this when you enjoy something or an activity.
     • Example: Me gusta el chocolate. (I like chocolate.)
   • No me gusta means "I do not like." This is the opposite of "me gusta."
     • Example: No me gusta el invierno. (I do not like winter.)

2. Me gustan / No me gustan

   • If you want to talk about more than one thing, use me gustan for things you like and no me gustan for things you don’t like.
     • Example: Me gustan las películas. (I like movies.)
     • Example: No me gustan las verduras. (I do not like vegetables.)

3. Me encanta / No me encanta

   • Me encanta means "I love." Use this when you really, really like something.
     • Example: Me encanta la música. (I love music.)
   • No me encanta means you don’t feel that strongly about something.
     • Example: No me encanta bailar. (I do not love dancing.)

Expanding Your Vocabulary: To express your likes and dislikes better, it helps to learn more words. Here are some common groups of words:

• Food and Drink:

  • Chocolate (chocolate)
  • Pizza (pizza)
  • Agua (water)
  • Frutas (fruits)

• Activities:

  • Jugar (to play)
  • Leer (to read)
  • Escuchar música (to listen to music)
  • Hacer ejercicio (to exercise)

• Hobbies:

  • Pintar (to paint)
  • Cocinar (to cook)
  • Viajar (to travel)

Practicing Conversations: You can practice these phrases by having simple conversations. Here’s an example:

• Dialogue Practice:
  • A: Hola, ¿te gusta el chocolate? (Hi, do you like chocolate?)
  • B: Sí, me gusta mucho. (Yes, I like it a lot.)
  • A: ¿Y a ti, te gusta la música? (And you, do you like music?)
  • B: No, no me gusta la música. (No, I don’t like music.)

You can also play a role-playing game with a friend to feel more comfortable using these phrases.

Writing Practice: Try writing sentences about what you like and dislike. Use this structure:

• Start with "Me gusta" or "No me gusta," and then say what you like or dislike.
  • Example: Me gusta la pizza. (I like pizza.)
  • Example: No me gusta correr. (I do not like to run.)

Listening and Pronunciation: To improve how these phrases sound, listen to native Spanish speakers. Repeat after them several times. Pay attention to how they say the vowels and express their likes and dislikes.

Conclusion: Learning to share your likes and dislikes is a great start for speaking Spanish. Remember to practice with others to get better at speaking and understanding. Having conversations with friends will make learning fun, and each time you practice, you’ll feel more confident in Spanish!