like [laɪk]
transitive verb
1 (find pleasant) object, activity, place
I like dancing/football me gusta bailar/el fútbol; I like bright colours me gustan los colores vivos; which do you like best? ¿cuál es el que más te gusta?; your father won't like it esto no le va a gustar a tu padre; I like oysters but they don't like me me gustan las ostras pero no me sientan muy bien; we like it here nos gusta este sitio; I like him me cae bien or simpático; I don't like him at all me resulta antipático; no me cae nada bien; I've come to like him le he llegado a tomar or coger cariño; (Esp) don't you like me just a little bit? ¿no me quieres un poquitín?; you know he likes you very much sabes que te tiene mucho cariño or que te quiere mucho
I don't think they like each other creo que no se caen bien
I don't like the look of him no me gusta su aspecto; no me gusta la pinta que tiene (informal)
I like your nerve! ¡qué frescura!; ¡qué cara tienes! I liked him as soon as I saw him she is someone I like and admire I like that hat
well, I like that! ¡será posible!; ¡habráse visto! untidy? I like that! - their place is like a pigsty!
she is well liked here aquí se la quiere mucho
2 (feel about) how do you like Cadiz? ¿qué te parece Cádiz?; how do you like it here? ¿qué te parece este sitio?; how would you like to go to the cinema? ¿te apetece or se te antoja ir al cine?; (LAm) how would you like it if somebody did the same to you? ¿cómo te sentirías si alguien te hiciera lo mismo?; how do you like that! I've been here five years and he doesn't know my name ¡qué te parece!, llevo cinco años trabajando aquí y no sabe ni cómo me llamo
how do you like him? we'll go to Paris! - how would you like that? how do you like that? ¿qué te parece?
3 (have a preference for) I like my whisky neat me gusta el whisky solo; this plant doesn't like sunlight a esta planta no le gusta la luz
how do you like your steak?
I like to know the facts before I form opinions me gusta conocer los hechos antes de formarme una opinión; I like to be obeyed me gusta que me obedezcan; she likes him to be home by ten le gusta que esté en casa antes de las diez; I like to think I'm not prejudiced creo que no tengo prejuicios; I like to think of myself as a humanitarian me considero una persona humanitaria
At this time of year I like to get all our summer clothes washed he likes to appear prosperous they like to quote John Kennedy's inaugural address I like to drink at least 2 litres of water a day I like to get the job done without fuss and go home she doesn't like him drinking so much I like to [believe] that I like to believe my experience counts for something I like to think we give firm but caring advice
4 (want) I didn't like to say no no quise decir que no; (because embarrassed) me dio vergüenza decir que no
take as much as you like toma or coge todo lo que quieras he thinks he can do as he likes cree que puede hacer lo que quiera; cree que puede hacer lo que le de la gana (informal)
whether he likes it or not le guste o no (le guste); quiera o no (quiera) like it or not, our families make us what we are we're going to have to spend the night here whether we like it or not
whenever you like cuando quieras she can do what she likes with him he can say what he likes - I won't change my mind would you like to tell me what happened? I thought of asking him but I didn't like to
5 would/should like
(specific request, offer, desire) would you like a drink? ¿quieres tomar algo?; I'd like you to do it quiero que lo hagas; would you like me to wait? ¿quiere que espere?; I'd or I would or (formal) I should like an explanation quisiera una explicación; me gustaría que me dieran una explicación; I'd like to think we're still friends quisiera creer que todavía somos amigos; I'd like to take this opportunity to thank you all quisiera aprovechar esta oportunidad para darles las gracias a todos; I'd like the roast chicken, please (me trae) el pollo asado, por favor; I'd like three pounds of tomatoes, please (me da) tres libras de tomates, por favor
I should like to know why I should like some more time to consider this I should like to have a better look when there's more time to study it I'd like (to take) a few days off, if that's possible would you like cream in your coffee? I should like more time we'd like a double room for three nights would you like to go to Seville?
(wishes, preferences) I'd like a bigger flat me gustaría tener un piso más grande; he'd like to have met her le hubiera gustado conocerla
I should like to have been there I should have liked to be there me hubiera gustado estar allí
they'd like to live in a warmer climate
intransitive verb
quereras you like como quieras "I think I'd better go now" - "as you like" [if] you like
"shall we go now?" — "if you like" —¿nos vamos ya? —si quieres a cat or, if you like, a feline come on Sunday if you like you can stay here if you like
likes (n) gustos (m) it also gives them the opportunity to share their perceptions about school, their likes, talents, hobbies
likes and dislikes aficiones (f) y fobias or manías; cosas (f) que gustan y cosas que no he has distinct likes and dislikes where food is concerned con respecto a la comida tiene claras preferencias or sabe muy bien lo que le gusta y lo que no (le gusta)
I shan't be here when he takes over, so my likes and dislikes hardly matter this is not an occasion to show your likes and dislikes in a public way this is a critical age when children start to grow permanent teeth and develop likes and dislikes
While gustar is one of the main ways of translating like, its use is not always appropriate. Used to refer to people, it may imply sexual attraction. Instead, use expressions like caer bien or parecer/resultar simpático/agradable. These expressions work like gustar and need an indirect object:
I like Francis very much Francis me cae muy bien or me parece muy simpático or agradable
She likes me, but that's all (A ella) le caigo bien, pero nada más
Translate to like doing sth and to like to do sth using gustar + infinitive:
Doctors don't like having to go out to visit patients at night A los médicos no les gusta tener que salir a visitar pacientes por la noche
My brother likes to rest after lunch A mi hermano le gusta descansar después de comer
Translate to like sb doing sth and to like sb to do sth using gustar + que + subjunctive:
My wife likes me to do the shopping A mi mujer le gusta que haga la compra
I don't like Irene living so far away No me gusta que Irene viva tan lejos
Use qué + parecer to translate how do/did you like when asking someone's opinion:
How do you like this coat? ¿Qué te parece este abrigo?
How did you like the concert? ¿Qué te ha parecido el concierto?
But use cómo + gustar when using how do you like more literally:
How do you like your steak? ¿Cómo le gusta la carne?
When translating would like, use querer with requests and offers and gustar to talk about preferences and wishes:
Would you like a glass of water? ¿Quiere un vaso de agua?
What would you like me to do about the tickets? ¿Qué quieres que haga respecto a los billetes?
I'd very much like to go to Spain this summer Me gustaría mucho ir a España este verano
Literal translations of I'd like are better avoided when making requests in shops and restaurants. Use expressions like the following:
I'd like steak and chips ¿Me pone un filete con patatas fritas?, (Yo) quiero un filete con patatas fritas