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Can you explain the difference between “mi piace” and “mi piacciono” in Italian?

Last Updated: 20.06.2025 05:57

Can you explain the difference between “mi piace” and “mi piacciono” in Italian?

Contrary to English “I like it", “mi piace” is not a personal expression with “I" as the subject. In Italian the subject and object are transposed — “mi piace" literally means “it pleases me". The verb is third person singular.

The endings of verbs indicate person and number in Italian and subject pronouns may therefore be omitted except when necessary for clearness or emphasis. In the case of “it" and “they" (referring to things) they are almost never used.

La veste mi piace. - I like the dress. (The dress pleases me).

You guys are talking about having sex with dogs. I heard a news man was trying to have sex with a female dog and got stuck inside. Is that possible? How does it feel inside a dog’s vagina?

The direct object pronoun “mi" is the object of the verb “piacere" (to please). Also known as conjunctive, such pronouns generally precede the verb that governs them. The expression “mi piace", employing third person singular format, translates literally to English as “it (understood) pleases me", i.e. I like it.

Thank you for your question.

Le scarpe mi piacciono. - I like the shoes. (The shoes please me.)

Can a mother forget her child after she puts him or her up for adoption?

A couple of examples:

From discussion thus far you might already have understood that “mi piacciono" employs the third person plural form of the verb and translates as “they (understood) please me”, i.e. I like them.