Mas gusto ko ang mansanas kaysa sa saging.

Mas means more, and gusto means like or want, depending on context.

So mas gusto means like more or prefer.

In this sentence, Mas gusto ko ang mansanas kaysa sa saging, mas gusto is expressing preference:

• gusto ko = I like / I want
• mas gusto ko = I like more / I prefer

A very natural English translation is I like apples more than bananas or I prefer apples to bananas.

Ko is the Filipino pronoun for I / my in this kind of structure, and it often comes after the predicate.

So:

• gusto ko = I like / I want

This word order is normal in Filipino. Filipino often puts the predicate first, then the pronoun.

Compare:

• Gusto ko ang mansanas. = I like apples.
• literally, this is closer to Liked by me are apples, though you should not translate it that way in normal English.

So ko comes after gusto because that is the standard Filipino pattern.

This is a very common question because both patterns exist, but they do not usually mean the same thing.

• Gusto ko ang mansanas usually means I like apples / I like the apple
• Gusto ko ng mansanas usually means I want an apple / I want some apples

In your sentence, the speaker is comparing two things they like:

• ang mansanas
• kaysa sa saging

So ang mansanas is the thing being highlighted as the preferred item.

A useful shortcut:

• gusto + ang → often like
• gusto + ng → often want

This is not a perfect rule in every situation, but it works well for many beginner sentences.

Ang is a marker used for the topic of the sentence.

In ang mansanas, it marks mansanas as the main thing being talked about or highlighted.

So in:

• Mas gusto ko ang mansanas kaysa sa saging

the sentence is centered on apples as the preferred item.

For learners, it is often enough to think:

• ang marks the main noun
• sa often marks location, direction, or the second item in a comparison
• ng often marks a non-topic noun, object, or something indefinite

That is a simplified explanation, but it is useful here.

Kaysa sa means than in comparisons with nouns.

So:

• kaysa sa saging = than bananas

In this sentence:

• Mas gusto ko ang mansanas kaysa sa saging
• I like apples more than bananas

A very common pattern is:

• mas + adjective/verb + X + kaysa sa + Y

Examples:

• Mas mahal ang kotse kaysa sa motor. = The car is more expensive than the motorcycle.
• Mas gusto ko ang kape kaysa sa tsaa. = I like coffee more than tea.

So kaysa sa is the comparison marker here.

Sometimes you may hear kaysa by itself, especially in casual speech, but with nouns, kaysa sa is very common and standard.

So for learners, it is safest to use:

• kaysa sa + noun

Examples:

• kaysa sa saging
• kaysa sa kape
• kaysa sa aso

If the comparison is with a person’s name, you may also see:

• kaysa kay Maria

So in your sentence, kaysa sa saging is the expected beginner-friendly form.

It can be singular or plural, depending on context.

Filipino nouns usually do not change form for singular vs. plural the way English nouns do.

So:

• mansanas can mean apple or apples
• saging can mean banana or bananas

In this sentence, English usually translates them as apples and bananas because it sounds more natural when talking about general preference:

• I like apples more than bananas

But depending on context, it could also refer to one apple and one banana.

It can mean both.

The exact meaning depends a lot on the structure and context.

Examples:

• Gusto ko ang mansanas. = I like apples.
• Gusto ko ng mansanas. = I want an apple / some apples.

So in your sentence, because it uses ang mansanas and compares preferences, gusto is understood as like rather than want.

This is one reason learners often need to pay attention not just to gusto, but also to the marker after it.

The sentence as written is a very natural order:

• Mas gusto ko ang mansanas kaysa sa saging.

This is the best version for a learner to use.

Filipino does allow some flexibility in word order, especially for emphasis, but not every rearrangement sounds equally natural.

For example, if you want to say the opposite idea, the easiest way is just to switch the nouns:

• Mas gusto ko ang saging kaysa sa mansanas.
• I like bananas more than apples.

As a beginner, it is best to keep the pattern:

• Mas gusto ko ang X kaysa sa Y.

This sentence already means that.

In Filipino, mas gusto is a very common and natural way to express prefer.

So:

• Mas gusto ko ang mansanas kaysa sa saging. can be translated as either:
• I like apples more than bananas or
• I prefer apples to bananas

Both are good translations.

It is usually pronounced roughly like KAY-sa.

A simple pronunciation guide for the whole sentence is:

• Mas → mahs
• gusto → GOOS-toh
• ko → koh
• ang → often like ahng
• mansanas → mahn-SA-nas
• kaysa → KAY-sa
• sa → sah
• saging → sa-GING

So the full sentence is roughly:

mahs GOOS-toh koh ahng mahn-SA-nas KAY-sa sah sa-GING

The exact pronunciation can vary a little by speaker, but that will get you close.