How Do I Say I Like In Italian?
If you want to say I like you, I like dancing, I like food, I like going out with my friends, or whatever it is that you like, in Italian you should use the verb piacere.
The Italian verb piacere is one of the most common verbs in Italian, one that you will use a lot.
However, sometimes it can be a bit confusing, because piacere is not used the same way as to like in English.
In English is “I like something”, while in Italian piacere translates as “something is likable to me”, “something is pleasing to me”.
Let’s first take a look at some examples:
Italian | English |
Mi piace il cioccolato. | I like chocolate. (literally: Chocolate is pleasing me. To me chocolate is pleasing.) |
Mi piacciono gli spaghetti. | I like spaghetti. (literally: Spaghetti are pleasing me. To me spaghetti are pleasing). |
Mi piace viaggiare. | I like traveling. (literally: Traveling is pleasing me. To me traveling is pleasing.) |
While in English the subject is “I” because it is me that likes chocolate, in Italian the real subject is the chocolate, because the chocolate is the one that is pleasing to me, the one that is likable to me.
In order to use this verb correctly, let’s first take a look at the structure of the sentence with piacere.
How Do I Use Piacere In Italian?
In English, we follow this formula:
Subject | Verb | Direct Object |
I | like | chocolate |
In Italian, we follow a different formula:
Indirect Object | Verb | Subject |
Mi | piace | la cioccolata |
Let’s see more sentences with piacere in Italian:
Indirect object | Verb | Subject | Translation |
Mi (a me) | piace | la musica jazz. | I like jazz |
Ti (a te) | piace | la musica jazz | You like jazz |
Gli (a lui) | piace | la musica jazz. | He likes jazz. |
Le (a lei) | piace | la musica jazz. | She like jazz. |
Ci (a noi) | piace | la musica jazz. | We like jazz. |
Vi (a voi) | piace | la musica jazz. | You like jazz. |
Gli (a loro) | piace | la musica jazz. | They like jazz. |
The verb is piacere (to like).
The subject of the sentence is the person/the object that we like. (la musica jazz).
The person who likes something is denoted by an indirect object pronoun (mi, ti, gli, le, ci, vi, gli).
Now it’s the right time to introduce the indirect object pronouns, if you aren’t familiar with them.
Italian Indirect Object Pronouns With Piacere
While direct object pronouns answer the questions: “Whom?” and “What”?, the Indirect Object Pronouns answer the questions: “To whom?” and “For whom?”.
The best way to understand this is through examples, but let’s first see what these pronouns look like.
Indirect Object Pronouns (long form → short form) |
A ME → MI (to me) |
A TE → TI (to you) |
A LUI → GLI (to him) |
A LEI → LE (to her) |
A NOI → CI (to us) |
A VOI → VI (to you all) |
A LORO → GLI (to them) |
Examples:
Puoi scrivere qualcosa a Marco? – Can you write something to Marco?
Sì, scrivo qualcosa a lui. – Yes, I’ll write something to him. (if we use long form)
Sì, gli scrivo qualcosa. – Yes, to him I’ll write something. (if we use short form)
Let’s take a look at another example, now with the verb piacere:
Ti piace la musica classica? – Is classical music likable to you?
Sì, la musica classica piace a me.- Yes, classical music is likable to me. (If we use long form)
Sì, mi piace la musica classica. – Yes, to me classical music is likable. (if we use short form)
NOTE: You cannot use both forms in a sentence. You either use the long form of the indirect object or the short form. Be careful, this is the commonest mistake among all Italian learners.
CORRECT: A lei piace la pasta. or Le piace la pasta. (she likes pasta)
INCORRECT: A lei le piace la pasta. (To her pasta is pleasing to her).
CORRECT: Mi piace la tua casa or A me piace la tua casa. (I like your house)
INCORRECT: A me mi piace la tua casa. (To me your house is likable to me).
Is there any difference if I use the short or the long form?
Actually, yes there is. There is a slight difference between these two types of forms.
Most of the time you should use the short forms. It’s the normal usage of the verb, it seems natural. For example:
Mi piace la tua amica. – I like your friend.
Here the focus is on the subject, on the thing that you like – amica.
The long forms of the indirect objects are rarely used. They are used when we want to emphasize the person that likes something. For example:
A me piace la tua amica. – I like your friend.
Here the focus is on ME, the indirect object, the person that likes the friend.
The Verb Piacere In The Present Tense
The verb piacere is an irregular verb. Let’s take a look at the conjugation:
Subject (the person who is liked) | Piacere (conjugated in present) | Translation |
Io | piaccio | (someone) likes me |
Tu | piaci | (someone) likes you |
Lui/Lei | piace | (someone) likes him/her |
Noi | piacciamo | (someone) likes us |
Voi | piacete | (someone) likes you all |
Loro | piacciono | (someone) likes them |
The verb is conjugated agreeing with the thing/person that we like.
Example:
Mi piaci!
I like you! (literally ‘to me you are pleasing’)
However most of the time, you only need to remember two persons, the third person singular (lui/lei) and plural (loro).
Why?
Because the verb piacere in Italian is usually used only in two forms:
PIACE | SINGULAR → when what we like is a singular noun | Mi piace l’estate. (I like summer.) |
→ when what we like is an infinitive verb | Mi piace leggere. (I like reading.) | |
PIACCIONO | PLURAL → when what we like is a plural noun | Mi piacciono i dolci. (I like sweets.) |
Here are some examples:
PIACERE with singular nouns | |||
Mi (to me) | piace | il calcio. | I like football. |
Ti (to you) | piace | la trama. | You like the plot. |
Gli / Le (to him/her) | piace | la chimica. | He/She likes chemistry. |
Ci (to us) | piace | Marco. | We like Marco. |
Vi (to you) | piace | la Germania? | Do you like Germany? |
Gli (to them) | piace | il centro storico. | They like the old town. |
PIACERE with the infinitive | |||
Mi (to me) | piace | correre. | I like running. |
Ti (to you) | piace | andare a scuola? | Do you like going to school? |
Gli / Le (to him/her) | piace | leggere libri? | Does he/she like reading books? |
Ci (to us) | piace | fare foto. | We like taking photos. |
Vi (to you) | piace | guardare la TV. | You like watching TV. |
Gli (to them) | piace | scrivere poesia? | Do they like writing poetry? |
PIACERE with plural nouns | |||
Mi (to me) | piacciono | le mele. | I like apples. |
Ti (to you) | piacciono | i romanzi gialli? | Do you like crime novels? |
Gli / Le (to him/her) | piacciono | i libri di Victor Hugo? | Does he/she like reading Victor Hugo’s books? |
Ci (to us) | piacciono | la frutta e la verdura. | We like fruit and vegetables. |
Vi (to you) | piacciono | Anna e Paolo? | Do you like Anna and Paolo? |
Gli (to them) | piacciono | le ragazze? | Do they like the girls? |
The Verb Piacere In Past Tense
Io | sono piaciuto/a | (someone) liked me |
Tu | sei piaciuto/a | (someone) liked you |
Lui/Lei | è piaciuto/a | (someone) liked him/her |
Noi | siamo piaciuti/e | (someone) liked us |
Voi | siete piaciuti/e | (someone) liked you all |
Loro | sono piaciuti/e | (someone) liked them |
REMEMBER:
In passato prossimo, the verb piacere is used with essere, not avere.
For this reason the verb agrees with the thing we like.
For example:
Mi è piaciuto il film. – I liked the movie.
Mi è piaciuta la pasta. – I liked the pasta.
Mi sono piaciute le canzoni. – I liked the songs.
Mi sono piaciuti i libri. – I liked the books.
How To Use Piacere In A Negative Sentence
NEGATION NON + INDIRECT OBJECT + VERB + SUBJECT
Italian | English |
Non mi piace la festa. | I don’t like the party. |
Non ti piace correre. | You don’t like running. |
Non gli piacciono gli animali. | He doesn’t like animals. |
Non le piace questo. | She doesn’t like this. |
Non ci piacciono gli adulti. | We don’t like adults. |
Non vi piace andare a scuola. | You don’t like going to school. |
Non gli piace la musica rock. | They don’t like rock. |
Other Meanings Of Piacere
Aside from being used as a verb, piacere can also be used as a noun assuming other meanings.
Let’s see some of them:
Piacere as pleasure, enjoyment
Ti ho ascoltato con vivo piacere. | I listened to you with great pleasure. |
Fa sempre piacere ricevere fiori. | It’s always a pleasure to get flowers. |
Fa sempre piacere vederti! | It’s always a pleasure to see you! |
I semplici piaceri portano felicità. | The simple pleasures make us happy. |
Piacere for greetings
Piacere can be used when meeting someone for the first time.
– Mi chiamo Mauro. – Io sono Antonio. – Piacere! or piacere di conoscerti! | – My name is Mauro. – I am Antonio. – It’s a pleasure to meet you! |
Piacere for courtesy
You can use piacere when asking favors or to be polite.
Mi faresti un piacere? | Would you do me a favor? |
Mi passi il sale, per piacere? | Could you please pass me the salt? In this case, it means “please”. You can make a polite request by adding per piacere, same as per favore. |
Fammi il piacere! | Give me a break! Literally: do me the favor |
Conclusion
Ti piace l’italiano?
Ti piace la musica italiana?
Ti piacciono la pasta e la pizza?
Now not only you will be able to enjoy the Italian language, culture, food and people, but you will also be able to express that in Italian.
All you have to say is mi piace… and every Italian will be happy to hear about all the things that you like.
Don’t be shy, you could say anything!
Mi piace la Ferrari. Mi piace la pasta. Mi piacciono gli spaghetti. Mi piace mangiare.
Explore everything that you like and don’t be afraid to say it out loud.
Because now you know how to do it!
By: Lucia Aiello
Lucia Aiello is one of the co-founders of LearnItalianGo. Born and raised in Italy, she is a passionate Italian teacher and language enthusiast.
FAQs
Piacere Italian - How to say 'I like' in Italian - Learn Italian Go? ›
The Italian verb piacere literally means “to be pleasing.” Italians use this verb when they want to express the idea that they like something. It is how Italians say, “I like it!”
Why do Italians say piacere? ›The Italian verb piacere literally means “to be pleasing.” Italians use this verb when they want to express the idea that they like something. It is how Italians say, “I like it!”
What are other ways to say I like in Italian? ›Subject (the person who is liked) | Piacere (conjugated in present) | Translation |
---|---|---|
Lui/Lei | piace | (someone) likes him/her |
Noi | piacciamo | (someone) likes us |
Voi | piacete | (someone) likes you all |
Loro | piacciono | (someone) likes them |
Piacere Conjugation: The Basics
As we just mentioned, if the 'liked object' is singular, you will use 'piace'. If, on the other hand, it is plural, you will use 'piacciono'. Ci piace andare al cinema nel weekend. We like going to the cinema on the weekend.
– Nice to meet you too. You may hear people saying piacere di conoscerti or piacere di conoscerla (formal) which also means nice to meet you. Here, the reply could be altrettanto (nice to meet you too).
Do Italians say I love you casually? ›Ti amo implies lots of commitment and a level of intimacy that, like Parmigiano Reggiano, should never be thrown around casually in the Italian language. However, use it correctly as part of a couple, and you'll definitely be rewarded.
How do you say I like in a fancy way? ›- I enjoy it.
- I love it.
- I am passionate about it.
- I am fond of it.
- I am a fan of it.
- I am interested in it.
- I am into it.
I am a fan of it: I'm a fan of jazz, though most young people are not into it. I am enthusiastic about it/interested in it: 1) I'm enthusiastic about this project. 2) I think my interest in it is obvious. I am keen on it: 1) He is rather keen on her, but she doesn't seem to like him.
How do you say I like you in a formal way? ›- I like you.
- I really like you.
- I like you a lot.
- Will you go out with me?
- Can I take you out?
- Would you have dinner with me?
- I'd love to go out with you.
- I'd love to go on a date with you.
Translation of "mio piacere" in English. Adverb. my pleasure.
What is the meaning of piacere? ›
: at pleasure : ad libitum. used in reference to a musical performance.
How is Prego used in Italy? ›How do you use "Prego" in Italian? You use "prego" to say "you're welcome", to give permission, to invite someone in, or to ask to repeat something.
What is the difference between gustar and piacere? ›In Italian, gustare means to taste, but in Spanish gustar means to like/to please. It's almost used the same as Italian piacere. Why did Spain stop using their form of piacere and instead say gustar? Mucho gusto is pretty much the same as molto piacere instead.
What is the difference between per piacere and per favore in Italian? ›“Per favore” and “per piacere” both basically mean “please” in Italian. However, Piacere has a tendency to mean “pleasure” while favore, no surprise, implies a favor. Incidentally, Per Piacere is also the name of a learn Italian course on the internet.
What is the most common Italian greeting? ›The most common Italian greeting is Ciao (pronounced CHOW). Ciao is a simple, snappy way of saying hello and goodbye in Italian.
How do Italians respond to Grazie? ›The response to grazie that you're most likely to use or hear is prego (you're welcome), or you could say di niente (not at all). For greater emphasis you can use s'immagini or si figuri in the formal form, and figurati informally (don't mention it).
What is molto grazie? ›“Many thanks” in Italian is either tante grazie or molte grazie.
How do Italians express their love? ›Other Italian phrases to express love besides "ti amo" include "ti adoro" (I adore you), "sei la mia vita" (you are my life), and "ti voglio tanto bene" (I love you very much).
What is the Italian way of flirting? ›After the first catchphrase, an Italian flirting strategy would usually proceed with a ton of compliments and sweet words accompanied by slow movements like holding your hand, caressing your face, blinking, winking, smiling, and looking in your eyes.
How do Italians show affection? ›Showing affection in public is very common in Italy. If you want to show your affection for someone, hold hands while walking together or embrace each other in public. Kissing is the number one way that Italians show affection. They kiss everyone: friends, relatives, children, grandparents…you name it!
How do you say I like you in a romantic way? ›
- I adore you. Happy anniversary, Cheryl. I adore you.
- You complete me. I'm so happy with you. You complete me.
- You fill my heart with love. Happy Valentine's Day! You fill my heart with love.
- You're everything to me. The past few months have been wonderful. ...
- I'm crazy about you.
3) Highlight their value. The best way to tell someone that you like them without directly saying it; is to tell them what they add to your life. A simple, yet heartfelt, statement like 'I'm way happier when you're around' can be more meaningful and more heartwarming than saying I like you.
How do you say I like it politely? ›I'm partial to it. I'm passionate about it. I'm really into it. I'm very interested in doing and learning about it.
What is the strongest way to say I love you? ›- I am here for you… always.
- I'm yours.
- I'm the luckiest person in the world.
- We are meant to be.
- I'd do anything to make you smile.
- You are my soulmate.
- My heart calls out for you.
- I like the way you make me feel, even when you are not around.
- similar.
- comparable.
- analogous.
- alike.
- such.
- akin.
- resembling.
- matching.
'I love you' and 'love you' are phrases used to convey an emotional attachment to a certain someone or something. 'I love you', however, is usually reserved for your significant other or parents. While 'love you' is commonly used between friends.
What is the meaning of Mi Amor? ›mi amor noun, masculine. sweetheart n.
What is 143 in love? ›143 is code for I love you, especially used on pagers back in the 1990s.
What does sei molto bello mean? ›You're very beautiful.
What does Ciao mi chiamo mean? ›The classic textbook phrase everyone learns on their first day of Italian lessons is Ciao, mi chiamo… which means Hello, my name is… but literally translates as Hello, I call myself... Ciao, mi chiamo Matteo.
What does sono molto grato mean? ›
I am grateful to you (singular). Le sono molto grato/a.
What does tutto vero mean? ›Translation of "tutto vero" in English. all true real. quite accurate. entirely true.
What does piacere puro mean? ›Translation of "piacere puro" in English. nm. pure pleasure. pure delight.
What does Grazie ragazzi mean? ›Thank you, guys. Grazie, ragazzi, grazie. (Man) Thank you, guys.
Why do Italians say pronto? ›People in Italy answer the phone with “pronto,” which means ready, or ready to speak. Using “pronto” originates from manually operated calls – when the operator made the connection, it was “pronto” or ready, and the speaking could begin.
What does allora mean in Italy? ›Allora (so, then, well) is one of those filler words that's highly useful when thinking of what to say in Italian. It buys you a little time and tells the listener you're thinking things over, especially when used by itself, or to introduce a sentence. Used by itself, it can express impatience: Allora!
How do you say cheers in Italy? ›'Cin cin' is the most common way to say 'cheers' in Italian. This is a casual and informal toast that is commonly used among friends and family. "Salute" is another way to say "cheers," which is more formal and is often used in more formal settings, such as a dinner party or a business event.
How do you use Vorrei in Italian? ›The io conditional form of volere is also irregular, and is vorrei, which means, “I would like.” Use the polite vorrei and say, “I would like…” instead of the more demanding “Voglio…” when asking for what you need in Italy; politeness is usually rewarded with the same in return.
Is it per piacere or per favore? ›Between PER FAVORE and PER PIACERE, I often suggest English speakers to use PER FAVORE, simply because most English speakers are familiar with the Spanish phrase “POR FAVOR”, which is very similar to the Italian “PER FAVORE” .
What does tanto vs molto mean in Italian? ›In general you can use them both in all cases. To be very precise, “molto” is a little more polite and referred to quality, while “tanto” is used more for quantity.
What does prima di tutto mean? ›
prima di tutto first of all.
What does famiglia su tutto mean? ›La Famiglia e Tutto Sign - Italian saying meaning "Family is Everything", Home Wall Decor Sign, Italian Quote, Italian sign, Wall art decor. SunFla. Star Seller.
What is grazie tutti in English? ›Thank you, all of you.
What are the most important tenses to learn in Italian? ›- The present: Io vado – I'm going, I go. Use it for now, for the future, for routines. ...
- The near past: Io sono andato – I went, I have been. Essential for talking about things you've done or did. ...
- The imperfect: Io andavo – I used to go, I was going, I went (repeatedly)
To sum up, while Italian is easier in terms of pronunciation, Spanish is simpler in terms of grammar. It seems this Italian vs Spanish thing is not as easy as we thought it would be. If you speak English, Spanish will be definitively easier than Italian for you because there are more similarities.
What are the 3 types of verbs in Italian? ›Italian verbs are divided into three families depending on their endings as conjugations: verbs in -are (first conjugation), -ere (second conjugation), and -ire (third conjugation).
What is the meaning of a piacere? ›: at pleasure : ad libitum. used in reference to a musical performance.
How do Italians greet strangers? ›The common verbal greeting is “Ciao” (Hello). This is quite casual. People may also say “Buongiorno” (Good day) or “Buonasera” (Good evening) to be more formal. Address a person by their title and last name, and continue to do so until invited to move to a first-name basis.
Why do Italians say Prego all the time? ›You are welcome
The “grazie”-“prego” combination is a must in the Italian language. It basically is an automatism and it is considered the cornerstone of basic politeness. If someone says “grazie” to you and you don't reply “prego,” you might be considered rude, so watch out for that!
sweetly {adverb}
dolcemente {adv.}
What does piacere mio means? ›
English translation of piacere mio in context
TRANSLATION. my pleasure.
The Italian sentences have different verbs, one singular (piace) and the other plural (piacciono). This is because the verb piacere literally means to be pleasing, and in one sentence what's pleasing is singular (l'Italia) and in the other it's plural (i cani).
How do you use piacere in past tense? ›📌 PIACERE IN THE PAST WITH ANOTHER VERB
When the subject is an action (an infinitive verb), the auxiliary essere of piacere is in the third person singular and the past participle ends in –o. The auxiliary and past participles always coincide with the gender and number of the pleasant object.
- It is common for Italian friends and families to kiss on the cheek when they meet, irrespective of their gender.
- Stand up out of respect when an older person enters the room.
- It is important to dress neatly and respectfully.
- Cover your mouth when yawning or sneezing.
- Hats should be removed indoors.
Italy: Two kisses is standard, but watch out — Italians tend to start with the left cheek. Also, try to save it for casual social environments (not networking events).
Why do Italians say a after every word? ›Try pronouncing the sounds /pr/, /tl/, /mn/, and then the sounds /li/, /mo/, /sa/. The latter sounds are more natural. This is why almost all Italian words end with a vowel. This explains, too, why many Italians add a final vowel to English words: it's a natural reaction.
Why do Italians say uh after every word? ›Italian is a very fluid, musical language, and Italian speakers will try to eliminate the awkwardness of going consonant-to-consonant. So they'll just add in a generic vowel sound—“ah” or “uh”—between consonants, to make it flow better.
What is the Italian word for rude? ›scortese = rude, unkind, discourteous. sgarbato = rude, impolite, ill-mannered.