"Me gustas tu."

Question

Soon it will be St.Valentine's Day and I will be downloading Manu Chao's "Me gustas tu." Can anyone explain why he uses "gustas"? I have always wondered and never understood.

And thank you, Lilium, for the lyrics - I can now sing along with him. I'm very grateful and feel a little foolish. Oh dear! - Tiarnach, Feb 5, 2014

Welcome to the forum. - rac1, Feb 5, 2014

Answer 1

Hello Tiarnach, it means: I like you.

"Gustas"- because "tu" is 2. person singular.

• For example, if you like un coche, it will be: Me gusta. ("coche" is 3. person singular)

And if you like "tres coches", it will be: Me gustan. ("coches" is 3. person plural)

• I'm not a Spanish native speaker, but I hope that I help you to understand until someone gives you better explanation :- )

• Here are the lyrics of this song:

Me gustan los aviones, Me gustas tu. Me gusta viajar, Me gustas tu. Me gusta la manana, Me gustas tu. Me gusta el viento, Me gustas tu. Me gusta sonar, Me gustas tu. Me gusta la mar, Me gustas tu.

Me gusta la moto, Me gustas tu. Me gusta correr, Me gustas tu. Me gusta la lluvia, Me gustas tu. Me gusta volver, Me gustas tu. Me gusta marijuana, Me gustas tu. Me gusta colombiana, Me gustas tu. Me gusta la montana, Me gustas tu. Me gusta la noche, Me gustas tu....

But then he goes on to ennumerate many things and still uses "gustas"? - Tiarnach, Feb 5, 2014

Sorry for typo!. It should be enumerate. - Tiarnach, Feb 5, 2014

It looks good to me Lilium :) - ian-hill, Feb 5, 2014

Me gustas tu. - really translates to "you (2nd pers singular) appeal to me. - ian-hill, Feb 5, 2014

Have listened more closely and he uses "gusta" where necessary. I have been mishearing him all these years! Thank you Lilium. I now understand. - Tiarnach, Feb 5, 2014

You are welcome Tiarnach ;) - 00b5f6c6, Feb 5, 2014

Answer 2

It's nearly Valentines!

:-) - 0095ca4c, Feb 5, 2014

Answer 3

To better understand the verb 'gustar', I was told to think of it as 'to be pleasing'.

Me gusta la casa. The house is pleasing to me. (I like the house.)

Me gustan los perros. The dogs are pleasing to me. (I like the dogs.)

Me gustas tú. You are pleasing to me. (I like you.)

In English, the subject is the person who is doing the action by liking something. I like, you like...

In Spanish, the subjects are the objects that do the action.

Here are some lessons that might help. Using the Verb 'Gustar', Verbs Like Gustar

Good explanation, Nikki. - annierats, Feb 5, 2014

Thank you! - NikkiLR, Feb 5, 2014