Intro.
In Italian, the verb piacere is used to express liking or interest toward someone or something. Things, animals, activities, and even people can be the object of one's interest or pleasure.
It's one of the most commonly used verbs in the Italian language — essential in everyday conversations when talking about your tastes or sharing personal opinions.
At the same time, piacere represents one of the most common challenges for learners of Italian. Its particular construction follows a precise grammatical logic, one that's quite different from many other verbs and from the logic of many other languages — and for that reason, it often causes confusion.
This complete guide will help you master the verb piacere in all its forms and uses. You'll learn how to build correct sentences, use it in formal and informal contexts, and express agreement or disagreement with other people's likes and dislikes. You'll also get to know other Italian verbs that follow the same logic as piacere.
Using piacere correctly is fundamental to speaking authentic Italian.
1. The construction of the verb piacere
To use piacere correctly, it's necessary to analyze the parts of the sentence.
In a sentence with piacere, the grammatical subject is the thing that pleases — the thing, the animal, the activity, or the person — and not the person who feels pleasure.
Let's look at an example and read the grammar rules:
Mi piace la montagna, mi piace camminare nei boschi e mi piacciono i paesaggi mozzafiato.
I like the mountains, I like walking in the woods, and I like breathtaking landscapes.
• The person who feels pleasure is expressed with an indirect pronoun. That's why we say "mi piace" and not "io piace".
The indirect pronouns correspond to the personal pronouns like this:
| Subject Pronoun | Indirect Pronoun |
|---|---|
| io | mi |
| tu | ti |
| lui/lei | gli / le (Le) |
| noi | ci |
| voi | vi |
| loro | gli (Vi) |
For more details about indirect pronouns, we recommend reading the dedicated article at the following link.
• The verb piacere is generally used in the third person singular “piace” and the third person plural “piacciono” — and it agrees in number with the noun that follows, meaning with the thing that pleases (the object, animal, activity, or person).
- The third person singular "piace" is used with singular nouns (“mi piace la montagna”) and with verbs in the infinitive when what you like is an action or activity (“mi piace camminare”).
- The third person plural "piacciono" is used with plural nouns (“mi piacciono i panorami”).
In Italian grammar, piacere therefore has three main constructions:
• indirect pronoun + piace + singular noun;
Examples:
Mi piace il cioccolato fondente, non mi stanco mai di mangiarlo.
I love dark chocolate — I never get tired of eating it.
Ti piace l’estate o preferisci l’inverno?
Do you like summer, or do you prefer winter?
Le piace la danza, è la sua passione più grande.
She loves dancing — it’s her biggest passion.
• indirect pronoun + piace + infinitive verb;
Examples:
Dopo una giornata di lavoro ci piace camminare al tramonto.
After a long day at work, we like walking at sunset.
Gli piace giocare a calcio ogni volta che ha un po’ di tempo libero.
He loves playing soccer whenever he has some free time.
Vi piace cucinare insieme?
Do you guys like cooking together?
• indirect pronoun + piacciono + plural noun.
Examples:
Mi piacciono molto i cavalli.
I really like horses.
So che vi piacciono i videogiochi!
I know you guys like video games!
I miei genitori scelgono sempre arredi vivaci, gli piacciono i colori brillanti.
My parents always choose bright furniture — they like vibrant colors.
When the proper or common nouns of the person who feels the liking are specified, the preposition “a” is used before the name instead of the indirect pronoun.
Examples:
A Giulia piace scrivere romanzi d’avventura.
Giulia likes writing adventure novels.
A Michele e Gianna piace andare a teatro.
Michele and Gianna like going to the theatre.
Al nonno piace giocare a carte.
My grandpa loves playing cards.
Ai turisti piace visitare i musei.
Tourists love visiting museums.
Al mio gatto piace dormire sul divano.
My cat loves sleeping on the couch.
Note: For the third person singular, the pronoun gli (to him) is used for the masculine and le (to her) for the feminine. For the third person plural, gli (to them) is used for both masculine and feminine.
Look at the following sentences:
A Roberto piace l’estate. → Gli piace l’estate.
Roberto likes summer. → He likes summer.
A Mara piace disegnare. → Le piace disegnare.
Mara likes drawing. → She likes drawing.
A Simona e Carlo piacciono i viaggi in treno. → Gli piacciono i viaggi in treno.
Simona and Carlo like traveling by train. → They like traveling by train.
1.1 The verb piacere to express emphasis or contrast
The verb piacere is also used to give greater emphasis to the person who feels pleasure, or to highlight a contrast between different tastes.
In these cases, pronouns are used preceded by the preposition "a": a me, a te, a lui/lei, a noi, a voi, a loro.
Examples:
A me piace fare lunghe passeggiate la domenica mattina, soprattutto quando c’è il sole.
I like taking long walks on Sunday mornings, especially when it’s sunny.
A lui piace guardare il calcio, a lei invece la pallavolo.
He likes watching soccer, but she likes volleyball.
The verb piacere can be repeated or left implied in the second part of the comparison because it's already expressed in the first part of the sentence.
Examples:
Abbiamo gusti completamente diversi: a noi piace la montagna, a loro piace il mare.
We have completely different tastes — we like the mountains, they like the sea.
A te piace la città, a lei (piace) la campagna.
You like the city; she likes the countryside.
2. The formal use of piacere
In formal contexts or polite situations, piacere is used with the pronouns Le and Vi as follows:
• in the singular, the pronoun Le is used for both masculine and feminine;
Examples:
Signor De Lorenzo, Le piacciono questi quadri?
Mr. De Lorenzo, do you like these paintings?
Signora Todini, Le piace l’Opera?
Mrs. Todini, do you like opera?
• in the plural, the pronoun Vi is used.
Example:
Signori Martini, Vi piace andare al cinema?
Mr. and Mrs. Martini, do you like going to the cinema?
3. The negative form of piacere
To say that you don't like something, you just add “non”.
When you use an indirect pronoun (mi, ti, gli/le, ci, vi, gli), "non" comes before the pronoun. But if the sentence contains a + noun/pronoun, "non" comes after that noun or pronoun.
Examples:
Mi piace il gelato. → Non mi piace il gelato. → A me non piace il gelato.
I like ice cream. → I don’t like ice cream. → As for me, I don’t like ice cream.
Gli piace sciare → Non gli piace sciare. → A lui non piace sciare.
He likes skiing. → He doesn’t like skiing. → He, on the other hand, doesn’t like skiing.
Ci piacciono i film d’azione → Non ci piacciono i film d’azione. → A noi non piacciono i film d’azione.
We like action movies. → We don’t like action movies. → We don’t like action movies, for our part.
A Giulia piace il caffè. → A Giulia non piace il caffè.
Giulia likes coffee. → Giulia doesn’t like coffee.
4. Expressing agreement and disagreement
When someone tells us they like or don't like something, we can respond to show agreement or disagreement with their taste.
In Italian conversation, there are some common fixed expressions:
• anche a me (me too) — to express agreement with an affirmative sentence;
Example:
A: Ti piace il tiramisù?
B: Sì, mi piace. E a te?
A: Anche a me.
A: Do you like tiramisù?
B: Yes, I do. And you?
A: Me too.
• a me (invece) no (I don’t / not me) — to express disagreement with an affirmative sentence;
Example:
A: Ti piace il tiramisù?
B: Sì, mi piace. E a te?
A: A me (invece) no.
A: Do you like tiramisù?
B: Yes, I do. And you?
A: I don’t.
• neanche a me (me neither) — to express agreement with a negative sentence;
Example:
A: Ti piacciono i fumetti?
B: No, non mi piacciono. E a te?
A: Neanche a me.
A: Do you like comics?
B: No, I don’t. And you?
A: Me neither.
• a me (invece) sì (I do) — to express disagreement with a negative sentence;
Example:
A: Ti piacciono i fumetti?
B: No, non mi piacciono. E a te?
A: A me (invece) sì.
A: Do you like comics?
B: No, I don’t. And you?
A: I do.
The same forms can be used with all other pronouns (a te, a lui/lei, a noi, etc.) or with proper or common nouns.
Example:
A: A te piacciono i film d'azione?
B: Sì. E a Valerio?
A: Anche a lui.
A: Do you like action movies?
B: Yeah. What about Valerio?
A: He does too.
In short answers, it's common to omit the second part of the pronoun when the context is clear:
Example:
A: A te piacciono i film d'azione?
B: Sì. E a Valerio?
A: Anche (a lui).
A: Do you like action movies?
B: Yes. What about Valerio?
A: He does too.
5. Verbs similar to piacere
In Italian grammar, there are several other verbs that work like piacere. These include mancare (to miss), servire (to need), bastare (to be enough), and sembrare/parere (to seem/to appear).
Examples:
Mi mancano due pagine per finire il libro.
I’ve got two pages left to finish the book.
Ci serve un caffè per iniziare la giornata.
We need a coffee to start the day.
Vi basta fare dieci minuti di esercizio ogni giorno.
Ten minutes of exercise a day is enough for you.
Mi sembra una buona idea.
That sounds like a good idea to me.
6. Piacere in Context: Italian Short Story
This short story demonstrates how the verb piacere works naturally within Italian conversation, showing the interplay between different pronoun forms, emphatic constructions, and everyday communication to create a complete picture of how Italians express preferences and negotiate different tastes in real-life situations.
Organizzare un viaggio con gli amici è sempre un piccolo esercizio di diplomazia. Mi piace viaggiare in compagnia, ma so bene che non è facile mettere tutti d’accordo.
Sabato scorso, davanti a un caffè, io, Francesca, Luca e Diego abbiamo deciso di programmare un weekend di primavera…impresa coraggiosa (ma non impossibile)!
«A me piacciono i luoghi ricchi di storia!» ha detto Francesca, sfogliando un depliant. «Mi piace l’arte. Mi piace soprattutto visitare i musei: mi piacciono i dipinti e le sculture dei grandi artisti» ha continuato.
Luca ha scosso la testa: «A me piacciono i monumenti all’aperto. Non mi piace restare chiuso per ore in una sala! Mi piace fotografare i palazzi antichi, camminare per le strade, perdermi tra i vicoli e scoprire le piazze».
A Diego invece non piacciono né i musei né i monumenti e ha aggiunto: «A me non piace fare programmi. Mi piace solo rilassarmi e dormire fino a tardi».
Io ho sorriso. «Abbiamo preferenze decisamente diverse! A me ad esempio piace il mare, ma possiamo trovare un compromesso!»
«Un compromesso?» ha chiesto Luca, ridendo. «Cosa proponi, una città sul mare con un museo e… un letto comodo?»
«Esatto!» ho risposto «Che ne dite di Napoli? C’è il mare, ci sono i musei e i monumenti e si mangia benissimo! Albergo a cinque stelle per Diego, promesso!»
«A me piace l’idea!» ha risposto subito Francesca. «A me invece piacciono da impazzire le sfogliatelle!» ha ribattuto Diego «Forse posso anche svegliarmi presto per quelle».
Luca ha alzato il bicchiere del caffè come per brindare: «Allora è deciso. Si va a Napoli!»
Rientrando a casa, ho pensato che, in fondo, ogni volta che io, Francesca, Luca e Diego decidiamo di partire, la meta non conta poi così tanto. In quanto a viaggi abbiamo gusti diversi, è vero, ma alla fine ci piacciono le stesse cose che davvero contano: ridere, stare bene e condividere bei momenti insieme.
7. Test Your Knowledge: Grammar Quiz
Test your skills and see what you've learned from this lesson on the Italian verb piacere by completing the following quiz.
8. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) 🙋♀️
Why is the verb piacere so hard to use?
Because in Italian grammar, the person who feels pleasure is not the subject of the sentence but the indirect object. When we say “Mi piace il mare” (I like the sea), we're literally saying “Il mare piace a me” (The sea is pleasing to me). The subject is “il mare”, not “io”.
How do I know when to use piace or piacciono?
It depends on the grammatical subject of the sentence — what pleases. “Piace” is used with singular nouns or infinitive verbs: “Mi piace la musica jazz” (I like jazz music), “Mi piace cantare” (I like singing). “Piacciono” is used with plural nouns: “Mi piacciono i dolci al limone” (I really like lemon sweets).
Which indirect pronouns are used with piacere?
The indirect pronouns are: mi, ti, gli/le, ci, vi, gli: mi piace (I like), ti piace (you like), gli piace (he likes), le piace (she likes), ci piace (we like), vi piace (you all like), gli piace (they like).
When do I use the preposition "a" before pronouns?
Forms with "a" + pronoun are used to emphasize who feels pleasure (A me piace molto viaggiare - I really like traveling), or to create contrast (A noi piace il mare, a loro invece piace la montagna - We like the sea, but they like the mountains).
You can also use "a" with proper or common nouns: "A Marco piace giocare a calcio" (Marco likes playing soccer); "A mio cugino piacciono le macchine sportive" (My cousin likes sports cars).
How can I say I don’t like something?
Just add “non” before the indirect pronoun: "Mi piace" → "Non mi piace" (I like it → I don’t like it); "Gli piacciono" → "Non gli piacciono" (He likes them → He doesn’t like them). With the emphatic form "a" + pronoun/name, "non" goes after it: "A me non piace" / "A Susanna non piacciono" (I don’t like it / Susanna doesn’t like them).
How is piacere used formally?
In formal Italian contexts, use the pronouns Le and Vi.
Le is used in the singular (for both masculine and feminine): "Professore, Le piace la nuova biblioteca dell’università?" (Professor, do you like the new university library?); "Signora, Le piace l'opera?" (Madam, do you like the opera?).
Vi is used in the plural: "Signori, Vi piace la città?" (Ladies and gentlemen, do you like the city?).
How do you express agreement or disagreement with someone’s tastes?
Use these Italian expressions: anche a me (me too) — to agree with an affirmative sentence; a me (invece) no (I don’t / Not me) — to disagree with an affirmative sentence; neanche a me (me neither) — to agree with a negative sentence; a me (invece) sì (I do) — to disagree with a negative sentence.
Are there other verbs that work like piacere?
Yes, Italian verbs like mancare (to miss), servire (to need), bastare (to be enough), and sembrare/parere (to seem/to appear) follow the same pattern: "Mi mancano due euro" (I’m two euros short); "Ci serve aiuto" (We need help); "Ti basta poco per essere felice" (It doesn’t take much for you to be happy).
Adriana Rossi is a certified teacher of Italian as a foreign language from Rome, Italy, and has been part of the Giulia team since 2024. With a Modern Literature degree and advanced studies in Modern Philology, she specializes in tracing the origins and evolution of Italian words, bringing expertise in diction and expressive reading to help preserve and share Italy’s linguistic heritage with learners worldwide.
