gefallen
Translation
to please, to like
Examples
Die neuen Kleider gefielen ihr sehr.
She liked the new clothes very much.
Uns gefielen die alten Lieder besser.
We liked the old songs better.
Grammar Patterns
((sth.)) ((sb.dat)) sth. pleases sb. The performance pleased the audience. Die Aufführung gefiel dem Publikum.
Similar Words
mögen (to like), ansprechen (to appeal to)
Etymology
From 'ge-' (prefix) + 'fallen' (to fall). The concept is that something 'falls' upon someone in a pleasing way.
Memory Tips
Crucially, the person doing the liking is the dative object (e.g., 'mir gefällt es' - 'it pleases me'). The thing that is liked is the subject of the sentence.