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How to say "I like" and "I don't like" hobbies in Spanish visualisation

How to say "I like" and "I don't like" hobbies in Spanish

Expand Your Sports and Hobbies Vocabulary in Spanish: How to say "I like" and "I don't like" hobbies in Spanish
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To say “I like” hobbies in Spanish, the common phrase is “Me gusta” followed by the activity or hobby. For example:

  • Me gusta leer (I like reading)
  • Me gusta jugar al fútbol (I like playing soccer)

To say “I don’t like” hobbies, simply add “No” before “me gusta”:

  • No me gusta bailar (I don’t like dancing)
  • No me gusta cocinar (I don’t like cooking)

When talking about multiple hobbies or plural things, use “Me gustan” (I like [plural things]) or “No me gustan” (I don’t like [plural things]):

  • Me gustan los deportes (I like sports)
  • No me gustan los videojuegos (I don’t like video games)

These phrases use the verb “gustar” which is structured differently from English, focusing on what pleases the speaker rather than the direct subject.

Understanding the Verb “Gustar” in More Detail

Unlike English, where the subject performs an action (I like something), in Spanish the verb “gustar” literally means “to be pleasing.” This means the thing you like is actually the subject of the sentence, and the person who likes it is the indirect object.

  • Me gusta el cine. (The cinema pleases me.)
  • Te gustan las novelas. (The novels please you.)

Here’s the breakdown:

  • Me = to me
  • Te = to you (informal singular)
  • Le = to him/her/you (formal singular)
  • Nos = to us
  • Os = to you all (informal plural in Spain)
  • Les = to them/you all (formal plural)

Because of this, the verb “gustar” agrees with what is liked, not the person who likes it.

Common Mistakes with “Gustar”

A frequent error learners make is to conjugate “gustar” as if it were a regular verb meaning “to like,” matching the subject “I.” For example, saying “Yo gusto” to mean “I like” is incorrect since “gusto” means “I please.”

Remember that the verb must agree with what is liked:

  • Correct: Me gusta la música. (Music is pleasing to me.)
  • Incorrect: Yo gusto la música.

Also, the indirect object pronoun (me, te, le, etc.) is mandatory:

  • Correct: Me gustan los deportes.
  • Incorrect: Gustan los deportes.

Using Infinitives versus Nouns After “Me gusta”

When expressing preferences for activities, “gustar” is usually followed by either:

  • An infinitive verb (to indicate actions or hobbies)
  • A singular or plural noun (to indicate objects, hobbies, or categories)

Examples:

  • Me gusta bailar. (I like dancing.)
  • Me gustan las montañas. (I like the mountains.)

Note that when an infinitive verb follows “gustar,” the verb is always singular because the activity itself is treated as a singular concept.

Expressing Specific Likes or Dislikes in Hobbies

Some hobbies may be expressed differently depending on specific vocabulary or cultural context. For example:

  • Me encanta pintar. (I love painting.) — “Encantar” is another verb like “gustar” but stronger, meaning “to love.”
  • No me interesa la jardinería. (Gardening doesn’t interest me.)

Using “encantar” or “interesar” is a step beyond “gustar” and adds variety to expressing preferences.

Expanding Vocabulary: Common Hobbies and How to Say Them in Spanish

Adding a wide range of hobbies can help build confident usage of “Me gusta” and “No me gusta.” Here are examples with translations:

SpanishEnglishExample Phrase
leerreadingMe gusta leer novelas.
jugar al fútbolplaying soccerMe gusta jugar al fútbol.
bailardancingNo me gusta bailar salsa.
cocinarcookingMe gusta cocinar pasta.
escuchar músicalistening to musicMe gusta escuchar música rock.
viajartravelingMe gustan viajar y explorar.
nadarswimmingNo me gusta nadar en frío.
hacer senderismohikingMe gusta hacer senderismo los fines de semana.
dibujar/pintardrawing/paintingMe encanta pintar paisajes.
tocar un instrumentoplaying an instrumentMe gusta tocar el piano.

Using these in sentences strengthens understanding and fluency.

Step-by-Step: Forming Sentences About Liking Hobbies in Spanish

  1. Identify the hobby or activity.
  2. Decide if you are talking about a singular activity (infinitive or singular noun) or plural activities/things.
  3. Choose the correct form of “gustar” (gusta for singular, gustan for plural).
  4. Place the correct indirect object pronoun before “gustar” (me, te, le, nos, os, les).
  5. If negating, add “No” before the pronoun.
  6. Construct the full sentence.

Example:

  • Hobby: “juegos de mesa” (board games)
  • Plural: Yes
  • Verb form: gustan
  • Pronoun: me (for “I”)
  • Affirmative: Me gustan los juegos de mesa.
  • Negative: No me gustan los juegos de mesa.

Summary:

  • I like [something] = Me gusta [activity/hobby]
  • I like [plural things] = Me gustan [plural activities/things]
  • I don’t like [something] = No me gusta [activity/hobby]
  • I don’t like [plural things] = No me gustan [plural activities/things]

Understanding these core rules about “gustar” is essential for expressing hobbies and preferences clearly and naturally in Spanish.

References

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