Amo i gatti
The English phrase "I love cats" is translated into Italian as Amo i gatti.
Amo i gatti is a statement used to express a strong liking for cats in general.
What does it mean word for word?
Amo is the first-person singular present indicative form of the verb amare, meaning "I love". gatti is the masculine plural form of gatto, meaning "cats".
Which one should you use?
While Amo i gatti expresses a strong, passionate love, you might use the verb piacere (for example, Mi piacciono i gatti) to express a more common preference or liking.
How does it change in a sentence?
In Italian, when expressing a general preference or liking for a category of things, the definite article i must be used before the noun. Additionally, the subject pronoun Io (I) is optional and often omitted because the verb ending o already indicates the first-person singular.
Did you know?
- While Amo i gatti is a direct statement of love, an Italian woman obsessed with cats is called a gattara. This term specifically describes the 'cat lady' archetype.
- The Italian word gatto is a cognate of the English word 'cat', both stemming from the Late Latin cattus.
- If you use Amo i gatti while maintaining intense eye contact, an Italian might perceive it as a poetic or obsessive passion for felines rather than a casual preference.
Examples in context
- Io amo i gatti.I love cats.This sentence is useful for practicing the use of the optional subject pronoun with Amo i gatti.Tatoeba #3002060 by Guybrush88, translation #1056416 by Mofli
- Amo i gatti più delle persone.I love cats more than people.This sentence is useful for comparing the intensity of your love for cats against people using Amo i gatti.Tatoeba #13084135 by Guybrush88, translation #10629516 by shekitten
- Amo i gatti come un topo ama il formaggioI love cats like a mouse loves cheese
- Amo i gatti, sono bellissimi.I love cats, they are beautiful.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Alessandro and Chiara are talking about their favorite pets.
- AlessandroA te piacciono gli animali?Do you like animals?
- ChiaraSì, amo i gatti!Yes, I love cats!
- AlessandroAnche io, ne ho due a casa.Me too, I have two at home.
- ChiaraChe bello, Alessandro!That's great, Alessandro!
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
