Italian · Everyday Verbs
"to like" in Italian: piacere
piacere
Note: "I like": mi piace
To like in Italian is piacere (pyah-CHEH-reh). The liked thing is the subject: mi piace il caffè means coffee is pleasing to me. Use mi piace for singular, mi piacciono for plural. Ti piace? asks do you like it with tu.
Gelato choice
Mi piace il pistacchio.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce piacere
Say it
pyah-CHEH-reh
/pjaˈtʃe.re/
Piacere stresses CHEH: pyah-CHEH-reh. Mi piace is mee PYAH-cheh. Piacciono is pyah-CHOH-noh.
"to like" in Italian: quick reference
| Italian | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| piacere | to like; to be pleasing Core verb with indirect object pronouns. | Core verb with indirect object pronouns. |
| mi piace / ti piace | I like / you like Singular liked thing. | Singular liked thing. |
| mi piacciono | I like them Plural liked things. | Plural liked things. |
| mi piacerebbe | I would like Polite wish or soft preference. | Polite wish or soft preference. |
How to use piacere in real life
- 1Gelato choice
Mi piace il pistacchio.
I like pistachio.
Mi piace + singular noun.
- 2Asking a friend
Ti piace questa canzone?
Do you like this song?
Ti piace with tu.
- 3Talking about shoes
Mi piacciono queste scarpe.
I like these shoes.
Piacciono agrees with plural scarpe.
Mistakes English speakers make with piacere
Incorrect: Io piace la pizza.
Correct: Mi piace la pizza.
Use mi, not io, as the experiencer pronoun.
Incorrect: Mi piace le mele.
Correct: Mi piacciono le mele.
Plural liked things need piacciono.
Good to know
Piacere also means pleasure as a noun, and Piacere! is how you say nice to meet you. The verb pattern feels backwards to English speakers at first, then becomes automatic with food and music talk.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Picking a film on the sofa
ChatPal
Ti piace il cinema italiano?
Do you like Italian cinema?
You
Sì, mi piace molto Fellini.
Yes, I like Fellini a lot.
ChatPal
Anche a me. Ti piacciono i film di Sorrentino?
Me too. Do you like Sorrentino's films?
You
Mi piacciono, ma stasera voglio una commedia.
I like them, but tonight I want a comedy.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"to like" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "to like" in Italian
Why is it mi piace not io piace?
The pronoun marks who is pleased. The thing liked is the grammatical subject.
When do I use mi piacciono?
When the liked thing is plural: mi piacciono i libri.
How do I say I would like?
Mi piacerebbe for a wish, or vorrei for ordering.
What does ti piace mean?
Do you like it? / you like it, with informal tu.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
Keep reading
- How to Learn Italian Fast and Speak with ConfidenceLearn how to learn Italian with a clear roadmap, speaking-first tactics and daily habits that turn basics into real conversation confidence.
- Translate Hello in Italian with ConfidenceLearn how to translate hello in Italian with context, pronunciation, and practice prompts. Master ciao, buongiorno, buonasera, and salve for real conversations.
