How to use 'mi piace' and 'mi piacciono'

We spent a recent session in my Dante Global course learning how to use the phrase mi piace.

Mi piace and mi piacciono are used to express likes or preferences. It's pretty simple, but this one is a little tricky for English speakers, because the subject of the sentence is the thing you like rather than you.

Let's look at a quick, simple example:

• English: I like beer.
• Italian: Mi piace la birra.

In the English sentence, "I" is the subject, "like" is the verb and "beer" is the direct object.

In the Italian sentence, "la birra" is the subject, "piace" is the verb and "mi" is the indirect object.

One way to the think of it is mi piace means "to be pleasing" rather than "to like." So, Mi piace literally means "It is pleasing to me."

So, the difference between mi piace and mi piaccono is the number of things that is pleasing to you.

Mi Piace

• Meaning: "I like" (singular)
• Usage: Use "mi piace" when you are talking about a singular noun or an infinitive verb (the base form of the verb).
• Examples:
  • Mi piace la pizza. (I like pizza.)
  • Mi piace leggere. (I like to read.)

Mi Piacciono

• Meaning: "I like" (plural)
• Usage: Use "mi piacciono" when you are talking about plural nouns.
• Examples:
  • Mi piacciono i gatti. (I like cats.)
  • Mi piacciono le canzoni italiane. (I like Italian songs.)

Idiom of the day

"Avere un diavolo per capello."

Literally, "to have a devil for each hair." This is used to describe someone who is extremely angry or irritable, as if they are so upset that it's as if there's a devil associated with each hair on their head.