verb

agradar

please · like

Hacer que algo resulte agradable o cause gusto a una persona.

Definition & meaning

The verb agradar means to please, to be agreeable, or to be likable. It is most commonly used to express that something or someone causes a positive feeling or meets the expectations or tastes of another person.

To please: To satisfy or make someone happy. For example, "Me agrada tu compañía" (I enjoy your company).
To be liked: Often used in a construction similar to gustar, where the thing being liked is the grammatical subject. For example, "No me agrada esta situación" (This situation does not please me / I do not like this situation).

Grammar & Word origin

Grammar: Agradar is a regular -ar verb. It is frequently used with indirect object pronouns (me, te, le, nos, les) to indicate who is being pleased, following the pattern: [Indirect Object] + [agrada/agradan] + [Subject].

Word origin: It comes from the Spanish prefix a- (towards) and the noun grado (will, pleasure, or rank), which originates from the Latin gradus (step or degree). Historically, hacer algo de buen grado meant to do something "with a good will" or "willingly."