Piacere and Similar Verbs

In brief

To say you like something, Italian uses piacere: the thing you like is the subject, while the person who likes it comes before the verb. So mi piace questo libro means ‘I like this book,’ literally ‘this book is pleasing to me.’

Form

Person + piace + singular noun or infinitive; person + piacciono + plural noun. For example: mi piace il film; mi piacciono i film.

Usage

• Use piace for one thing or an activity, and piacciono for several things.
• The same pattern appears with servire when saying what someone needs: mi serve un biglietto, mi servono due biglietti.
• In questions, keep the same agreement: Ti piacciono questi film?

Examples

• Mi piace questo libro. — I like this book.
• Ti piacciono questi film? — Do you like these movies?
• Ci piace cucinare insieme. — We like cooking together.
• Mi servono due biglietti. — I need two tickets.

Common mistake

❌ Io piaccio questo libro.

✅ Mi piace questo libro.

Unlike English ‘I like this book,’ Italian makes the book the subject of piacere and marks the person who likes it with mi.

Remember

Choose piace or piacciono according to what is liked, not who likes it.