piacciono
piacciono is a form of the Italian verb meaning to like something or someone.
What does it mean word for word?
Literally, piacciono means "they please" or "they are pleasing to [someone]".
How does it change in a sentence?
The form piacciono is the third-person plural present indicative of the verb piacere. You must use this specific form when the things being liked are plural. If the object being liked is singular or an uncountable noun, use piace instead. Additionally, pronouns typically come before the verb, such as in Mi piacciono i fiori. To say "I like them," you must use the indirect object pronoun mi (to me) before the verb piacciono.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use io piaccio to mean "I like," but in Italian, the subject of the verb is actually the thing being liked. Using io piaccio actually means "I am liked."
Did you know?
- The verb piacere is related to the Latin placere, which is also the origin of the English word 'placebo', meaning something designed to 'please' the patient.
- In Italian, you can use piacciono to describe a romantic attraction by saying Mi piacciono, but to express deep love for a person, Italians typically switch to the verb amare.
- Because the grammar of piacciono mirrors the English phrase 'they please me', it functions similarly to the Spanish verb gustar, which is why learners of both languages often confuse the two.
Examples in context
- Suor Angela, le piacciono i fiori?Sister Angela, do you like flowers?
- Mi piacciono i tuoi amici divertenti.I like your fun friends.
- Ti piacciono i gelati?Do you like ice cream?
- Mi piacciono molto questi libri.I like these books very much.
- Ti piacciono i nuovi film?Do you like the new movies?
- A loro piacciono le lingue straniere.They like foreign languages.
Example conversation
Matteo and Chiara are talking about a gift for a friend.
- MatteoTi piacciono questi fiori?Do you like these flowers?
- ChiaraSì, mi piacciono moltissimo.Yes, I like them very much.
- MatteoBene, allora li prendiamo per lei.Good, then we'll get them for her.
- ChiaraOttima idea, Matteo.Great idea, Matteo.
