mi piace
The English phrase "I like that" is expressed in Italian as mi piace.
You use mi piace to express that you find something pleasing or appealing. If you want to express a stronger feeling, you can use the synonym adoro (I adore) or apprezzo (I appreciate).
What does it mean word for word?
Literally, mi piace translates to "it pleases me".
How does it change in a sentence?
In the phrase mi piace, the subject is actually the thing being liked, rather than the person doing the liking. Because of this, the form must change depending on what you like: if the thing you like is plural, you must use the form mi piacciono instead of mi piace.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid saying io piaccio to mean "I like". In Italian, io piaccio actually means "I am liked" or "I am pleasing to others".
Did you know?
- If you want to say you 'like' a song, you can say mi piace, but if you are obsessed with it, you might say mi ha preso, meaning the song 'took' or 'seized' you.
- While mi piace is the standard way to say 'I like it', Italians often use mi piace when talking about a person they are romantically attracted to, rather than using the verb amare (to love).
- While mi piace describes a general preference, Italians use the phrase mi va (it goes to me) to express a sudden whim or desire to do something right now.
Examples in context
- Mi piace quel cane.I like that dog.This sentence is useful for saying you like a specific dog using mi piace.Tatoeba #3102215 by Guybrush88, translation #2868959 by CK
- Mi piace quel film.I like that movie.This sentence is useful for saying you like a specific movie using mi piace.Tatoeba #10698214 by Guybrush88, translation #10698210 by shekitten
- Mi piace quel lago.I like that lake.This sentence is useful for saying you like a specific lake using mi piace.Tatoeba #14028469 by Guybrush88, translation #13359512 by Radek
- Mi piace tanto questo quadroI like this painting a lot
- Mi piace un sacco questa pizzaI like this pizza a ton
- Mi piace un casino quel filmI like that movie a lot
- Mi piace un sacco, lo adoro!I like it a ton, I adore it!
- 26 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Matteo and Chiara are looking at a piece of art in a gallery.
- MatteoGuarda questo quadro, Chiara.Look at this painting, Chiara.
- ChiaraSì, mi piace molto.Yes, I like it a lot.
- MatteoAnche a me piace.I like it too.
- ChiaraÈ davvero molto bello.It is truly very beautiful.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
