Using “Piacere” Correctly in Italian (It’s Not Just ‘To Like’)

Jun 28

Learn how to use the Italian verb piacere properly, from basic meanings to advanced uses. Avoid common mistakes and sound like a native speaker.

Introduction: More Than Just "Liking"

If you’re learning Italian, chances are you’ve encountered the verb piacere. And if you’re an English speaker, chances are you’ve also found it a little... backward.

That’s because piacere doesn’t work like the English verb “to like.” In fact, it’s more like “to be pleasing to.” And that simple shift in perspective changes everything: subject, object, verb agreement—all of it.

For example, the sentence “I like pizza” becomes Mi piace la pizza. But grammatically, what you’re really saying is: “Pizza is pleasing to me.”

So who’s doing the liking? Not me—it’s the pizza, and I am the one being affected by it.

Understanding piacere is a major milestone in your Italian journey. It’s not just a useful word—it’s a verb that teaches you how Italian expresses emotions and experiences. It opens the door to a different way of thinking about language.

In this article, we’ll break down everything you need to know about piacere, from beginner-friendly examples to more advanced uses like piacere di conoscerti and piacerebbe. You’ll learn how to avoid common mistakes, form correct sentences, and build your confidence in real conversation.

1. Basic Structure: Who Pleases Whom?

The Core Rule:

In Italian, piacere is used like this:

[Indirect object] + piacere + [subject]

Example:

Mi piace la pizza. → Pizza is pleasing to me. → I like pizza.

More Examples:

Ti piace il caffè? → Do you like coffee? (Literally: Is coffee pleasing to you?)
Gli piace viaggiare. → He likes traveling. (Traveling is pleasing to him.)
Ci piacciono i film italiani. → We like Italian movies. (Italian movies are pleasing to us.)

Note the verb agreement: piace for singular things or infinitives, piacciono for plural nouns.

2. Indirect Object Pronouns

Here’s your cheat sheet for indirect object pronouns (the ones that go before piacere):

ItalianEnglishmito metito you (sing.)glito himleto hercito usvito you (pl.)glito them

Practice Sentences:

Le piace leggere. → She likes reading.
Vi piace questa città? → Do you (plural) like this city?
Gli piacciono gli spaghetti. → They like spaghetti.

3. When to Use Piace vs. Piacciono

The verb agrees with what is liked, not who likes it.

FormUsed Withpiacesingular nouns, infinitive verbspiaccionoplural nouns

Examples:

Mi piace il gelato. (I like ice cream.)
Mi piacciono i gelati. (I like ice creams.)
Ti piace ballare? (Do you like dancing?)

4. Asking Questions with Piacere

To ask someone if they like something, just flip the sentence:

Ti piace la musica? → Do you like music?
Vi piacciono i musei? → Do you (plural) like museums?
Le piace cucinare? → Does she like cooking?

To respond:

Sì, mi piace molto. → Yes, I like it a lot.
No, non mi piace. → No, I don’t like it.

5. Advanced Uses of Piacere

A. Piacere di conoscerti / conoscerla

Used to say “Nice to meet you.”

Piacere di conoscerti. → Informal
Piacere di conoscerla. → Formal

Often shortened to just:

Piacere! → Nice to meet you!

B. Past Tense: è piaciuto / sono piaciuti

The auxiliary verb is essere.

Mi è piaciuto il film. → I liked the movie.
Ti sono piaciute le vacanze? → Did you like the vacation?

Don’t forget to match gender and number:

Mi è piaciuta la torta. (feminine singular)
Ci sono piaciuti i concerti. (masculine plural)

C. Conditional: piacerebbe

Used to express polite desires.

Mi piacerebbe visitare Roma. → I would like to visit Rome.
Ti piacerebbe uscire stasera? → Would you like to go out tonight?

6. Common Mistakes to Avoid

Mistake 1: Saying “Io piace”

Wrong! The verb piacere is not conjugated for the person who likes, but for what is liked.

Correct: Mi piace il pane. (not Io piace il pane)

Mistake 2: Using Direct Instead of Indirect Pronouns

Don’t say me, te, lo, etc.—use mi, ti, gli, etc.

Mistake 3: Forgetting Verb Agreement

Remember: piace vs. piacciono is based on the thing, not the person.

Mistake 4: Mixing Up Tenses

When talking about the past, don’t use ho piacuto—the correct form is mi è piaciuto (with essere).

7. Cultural Context: What Piacere Teaches About Italian Thinking

The structure of piacere reflects a deeper cultural idea: that emotions and experiences act upon the person, not the other way around. This aligns with how Italians often express feelings:

Mi manca l’Italia. → I miss Italy. (Literally: Italy is missing from me.)

The language doesn’t say “I control my emotions”—it says “these experiences are affecting me.” It’s a more passive, receptive approach to feelings—one that reveals how Italians connect with their world.

FAQs: Using Piacere in Italian

Q: Can I say io piace?
A: No. Use mi piace. The person liking is the indirect object.

Q: How do I know when to use piace vs. piacciono?
A: Look at what is liked. Singular or verb = piace, plural noun = piacciono.

Q: What’s the past tense of piacere?
A: è piaciuto (singular) or sono piaciuti (plural), always with essere.

Q: Is piacere used in formal greetings?
A: Yes! Piacere di conoscerla is a very polite way to say “Nice to meet you.”

Q: Is it ever used reflexively?
A: No. It’s not a reflexive verb, though it may feel similar in structure.

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