Wants and Preferences (Gusto/Ayaw/Nais) in Tagalog

Overview

Expressing what you want and do not want is among the most practical language skills. Tagalog uses three key words for this: gusto (want/like), ayaw (don't want/dislike), and nais (want/wish, formal). These are A1 essentials because they appear in nearly every conversation — ordering food, making plans, expressing preferences.

These words are pseudo-verbs: they look and act like verbs in sentences but do not conjugate for aspect. Gusto is always gusto, whether you wanted something yesterday or will want it tomorrow. This makes them refreshingly simple compared to regular Tagalog verbs.

Gusto and nais mean the same thing, but gusto is overwhelmingly preferred in everyday conversation, while nais appears in formal writing, speeches, and literature. Ayaw is the negative counterpart to both — it expresses dislike or refusal.

How It Works

Basic patterns:

Pattern	Example	English
Gusto + pronoun + ng + noun	Gusto ko ng kape.	I want coffee.
Gusto + pronoun + -ng + verb	Gusto kong kumain.	I want to eat.
Ayaw + pronoun + -ng + verb	Ayaw niyang pumunta.	He/She doesn't want to go.
Nais + pronoun + -ng + verb	Nais kong matuto.	I wish to learn. (formal)

Pronoun forms used with gusto/ayaw/nais:

Person	Pronoun	Example
I	ko	Gusto ko
You (singular)	mo	Gusto mo
He/She	niya	Gusto niya
We (exclusive)	namin	Gusto namin
We (inclusive)	natin	Gusto natin
You (plural)	ninyo	Gusto ninyo
They	nila	Gusto nila

Making questions with ba:

Gusto + pronoun + ba + -ng + verb/noun?

Gusto mo bang kumain? — Do you want to eat? Gusto mo ba ng kape? — Do you want coffee?

Examples in Context

Tagalog	English	Note
Gusto ko ng kape.	I want coffee.	Want + noun
Ayaw niyang pumunta.	He/She doesn't want to go.	Dislike + verb
Gusto mo bang sumama?	Do you want to come along?	Question with ba
Nais kong matuto ng Tagalog.	I wish to learn Tagalog.	Formal want
Ayaw ko ng sibuyas.	I don't like onions.	Dislike + noun
Gusto nila ng masarap na pagkain.	They want delicious food.	Want with adjective + noun
Gusto ko siyang makita.	I want to see him/her.	Want with object pronoun
Ayaw kong matulog nang maaga.	I don't want to sleep early.	Dislike + verb + adverb
Ano ang gusto mo?	What do you want?	Question with ano
Gusto mo ito o iyon?	Do you want this or that?	Choice question

Common Mistakes

Forgetting the Linker Before Verbs

• Wrong: Gusto ko kumain.
• Right: Gusto kong kumain.
• Why: The linker -ng (attached to the pronoun as kong) is required before the verb.

Using Hindi Instead of Ayaw

• Wrong: Hindi gusto ko ng kape. (grammatically awkward)
• Right: Ayaw ko ng kape. (I don't want coffee.) or Hindi ko gusto ang kape. (I don't like the coffee.)
• Why: For expressing "don't want," ayaw is the natural and standard form. Hindi ko gusto is possible but less common.

Conjugating Gusto for Aspect

• Wrong: Gumustto ako ng kape kahapon.
• Right: Gusto ko ng kape kahapon. (I wanted coffee yesterday.)
• Why: Gusto, ayaw, and nais do not change form. Time context clarifies the timeframe.

Mixing Up Ng and Ang After Gusto

• Wrong: Gusto ko ang kape. (when just saying you want coffee in general)
• Right: Gusto ko ng kape. (I want coffee.)
• Why: Use ng for indefinite/general objects. Ang marks a specific, definite object: Gusto ko ang kapeng ito. (I want this coffee.)

Practice Tips

1. Food preferences: Practice ordering by listing foods you like and dislike: Gusto ko ng adobo. Ayaw ko ng ampalaya. (I like adobo. I don't like bitter melon.) This is practical and culturally relevant.

2. Invitation practice: Use Gusto mo bang...? to invite people: Gusto mo bang kumain? (Want to eat?), Gusto mo bang manood ng pelikula? (Want to watch a movie?)

3. Decision dialogues: Practice choosing between options: Gusto mo ng kape o tsaa? — Gusto ko ng tsaa. These exchanges mirror real daily decisions.

Related Concepts

• Personal Pronouns — prerequisite for the pronoun forms used with gusto/ayaw