Many English speakers become confused when they need to say “I like” in Italian but it’s really quite simple. What you are saying is “Something is pleasing to me” but the word order is reversed:
Mi piace la pizza – I like pizza.
But if the things you like are plural, what you say is the equivalent of “Some things are pleasing to me”:
Mi piacciono i libri – I like books.
It is very easy to make these phrases negative. You just put the word “Non” in front of them!
Non mi piace la pizza – I don’t like pizza.
You can also use mi piace or non mi piace with a verb in the infinitive:
Mi piace sciare – I like skiing.
To ask someone if they like something you say:
Ti piace + singular noun if you know the person well:
Ti piace il gelato? – Do you like ice cream?
Or
Ti piacciono + plural noun
Ti piacciono gli spaghetti? – Do you like spaghetti?
If you do not know the person well, you use
Le piace + singular noun or le piacciono + plural noun:
Le piace la musica? – Do you like music?
Le piacciono i cani? – Do you like dogs?
The forms
A me piace + singular noun
A me piacciono + plural noun
also exist and also mean “I like”:
A me piace l’Italia – I like Italy
A me piacciono gli Italiani – I like Italians
We advise you to add this form to your “passive” structures – ie., you will recognise it when you hear it – but to use the easier forms above.
Do you like Italy Magazine on Facebook?
Si, Mi Piace! / Yes, I like it!
