Voglio un caffè.
I want a coffee.
IPA /ˈvɔʎʎo um kafˈfɛ/
Say it VOH-lyoh oon kahf-FEH
With strangers, the polite version is Vorrei un caffè (Lesson 15).
Lesson 3 of 16
Wanting, Knowing and Liking
Say what you want, what you know and what you like. The verbs volere, sapere and the mi piace pattern open the door to real opinions.
What you will learn
- Conjugate volere and sapere in the present tense
- Use modal verb + infinitive: voglio + infinitive
- Use mi piace and mi piacciono correctly
- Understand noun gender and form basic plurals
- Talk about books, films, music, food and languages
- Use essere d'accordo to agree in conversation
Quick review
Say these aloud before you start. They come from earlier lessons.
- Mi chiamo Anna. My name is Anna.
- Sono di Roma. I am from Rome.
- Faccio il medico. I am a doctor.
- Come stai? How are you?
- Non lavoro qui. I do not work here.
Theory
voglio + infinitive: the desire machine
Volere (to want) is your key to polite and direct requests. When you know a person, voglio + infinitive is natural: Voglio un caffè. With strangers, prefer vorrei (Lesson 15), but understand voglio first.
The pattern is simple: voglio/vuoi/vuole + verb infinitive. Voglio imparare l'italiano. Notice the -ere and -ire verbs are unchanged: scrivere, leggere, dormire.
- Voglio un caffè. I want a coffee.
- Vuoi guardare un film? Do you want to watch a film?
- Vogliamo mangiare adesso. We want to eat now.
sapere: knowing how, knowing facts
Sapere means both 'to know a fact' and 'to know how to do something'. For skills, follow it with an infinitive: So guidare (I can drive, I know how to drive).
Unlike voglio, sapere changes in the io and loro forms: so, sai, sa, sappiamo, sapete, sanno. Learn the io form first — So parlare inglese is a sentence you will say constantly.
- So parlare inglese. I know how to speak English.
- Non so dove abita. I do not know where he lives.
- Sai nuotare? Can you swim?
mi piace: liking things in Italian
Italian builds 'I like' backwards: mi piace means 'it is pleasing to me'. Mi piace il caffè. When what you like is plural, the verb changes: mi piacciono (they are pleasing to me). Mi piacciono i libri.
So the verb agrees with the thing liked, not with you. One book: mi piace. Two books: mi piacciono. This is the most common beginner mistake in Italian — drill it hard.
- Mi piace la musica. I like music.
- Mi piacciono i film italiani. I like Italian films.
- Ti piace il caffè? Do you like coffee?
Gender and plurals: il, la, lo
Every Italian noun is masculine or feminine, and the article shows it: il/lo for masculine singular, la for feminine. Lo is used before s+consonant and z: lo studente, lo zaino.
Basic plural: most nouns change -o to -i (il libro → i libri) and -a to -e (la casa → le case). Always learn a noun with its article — the gender is invisible otherwise.
- il libro → i libri the book → the books
- la casa → le case the house → the houses
- lo studente → gli studenti the student → the students
| volere | sapere | |
|---|---|---|
| io | voglio | so |
| tu | vuoi | sai |
| lui / lei | vuole | sa |
| noi | vogliamo | sappiamo |
| voi | volete | sapete |
| loro | vogliono | sanno |
Both are followed directly by an infinitive: Voglio partire. So nuotare.
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| io | Mi piace il caffè. | Mi piacciono i caffè. |
| tu | Ti piace la pizza? | Ti piacciono le pizze? |
| noi | Ci piace il film. | Ci piacciono i film. |
The verb follows the number of the thing liked, not the person.
Vocabulary
Learn these words with their pronunciation. Nouns are given with their article — always learn them together.
| Italian | English | Pronunciation | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|
| volere | to want | /voˈlere/ voh-LEH-reh | |
| sapere | to know (facts, skills) | /saˈpere/ sah-PEH-reh | |
| vivere | to live | /ˈvivere/ VEE-veh-reh | |
| leggere | to read | /ˈlɛddʒere/ LEHJ-jeh-reh | |
| scrivere | to write | /ˈskrivere/ SKREE-veh-reh | |
| dormire | to sleep | /dorˈmire/ dor-MEE-reh | |
| capire | to understand | /kaˈpire/ kah-PEE-reh | |
| cercare | to look for | /tʃerˈkare/ chehr-KAH-reh | |
| trovare | to find | /troˈvare/ troh-VAH-reh | |
| pensare | to think | /penˈsare/ pehn-SAH-reh | |
| provare | to try | /proˈvare/ proh-VAH-reh | |
| aiutare | to help | /ajuˈtare/ ah-yoo-TAH-reh | |
| il libro | book | /ˈlibro/ LEE-broh | |
| il film | film | /ˈfilm/ FEELM | |
| la musica | music | /ˈmuzika/ MOO-zee-kah | |
| il caffè | coffee | /kafˈfɛ/ kahf-FEH | |
| la pizza | pizza | /ˈpittsa/ PEET-tsah | |
| il vino | wine | /ˈvino/ VEE-noh | |
| la lingua | language, tongue | /ˈliŋɡwa/ LEEN-gwah | |
| la parola | word | /paˈrɔla/ pah-ROH-lah | |
| la casa | house, home | /ˈkasa/ KAH-zah | |
| lo zaino | backpack | /ˈdzaino/ DZY-noh | |
| un po' | a little, a bit | /um ˈpɔ/ oon POH | |
| sempre | always | /ˈsɛmpre/ SEHM-preh |
Ready-to-use phrases
Che cosa vuoi?
What do you want?
IPA /ke ˈkɔza ˈvwɔi/
Say it keh KOH-zah VWOY
Vuoi un caffè?
Do you want a coffee?
IPA /ˈvwɔi um kafˈfɛ/
Say it VWOY oon kahf-FEH
Voglio imparare l'italiano.
I want to learn Italian.
IPA /ˈvɔʎʎo im paˈrare litaˈljano/
Say it VOH-lyoh eem-pah-RAH-reh lee-tah-LYAH-noh
So parlare inglese.
I can speak English.
IPA /so parˈlare iŋˈɡleze/
Say it soh par-LAH-reh een-GLEH-zeh
So + infinitive means 'I know how to'.
Non so nuotare.
I cannot swim.
IPA /non so nwoˈtare/
Say it nohn soh nwoh-TAH-reh
Sai guidare?
Can you drive?
IPA /sai ɡwiˈdare/
Say it SY gwee-DAH-reh
Mi piace la musica.
I like music.
IPA /mi ˈpjatʃe la ˈmuzika/
Say it mee PYAH-cheh lah MOO-zee-kah
Mi piacciono i film italiani.
I like Italian films.
IPA /mi ˈpjatʃono i ˈfilm itaˈljani/
Say it mee PYAH-choh-noh ee FEELM ee-tah-LYAH-nee
Plural thing → mi piacciono.
Ti piace la pizza?
Do you like pizza?
IPA /ti ˈpjatʃe la ˈpittsa/
Say it tee PYAH-cheh lah PEET-tsah
Non mi piace il vino.
I do not like wine.
IPA /non mi ˈpjatʃe il ˈvino/
Say it nohn mee PYAH-cheh eel VEE-noh
non comes before mi piace.
Leggo un libro ogni sera.
I read a book every evening.
IPA /ˈlɛɡɡo um ˈlibro ˈoɲɲi ˈsera/
Say it LEH-goh oon LEE-broh OH-nyee SEH-rah
Scrivo un'email.
I am writing an email.
IPA /ˈskrivo un eˈmail/
Say it SKREE-voh oon ee-MAYL
Capisco un po' d'italiano.
I understand a little Italian.
IPA /kaˈpisko um pɔ ditaˈljano/
Say it kah-PEES-koh oon POH dee-tah-LYAH-noh
capire uses -isc in io: capisco.
Non capisco.
I do not understand.
IPA /non kaˈpisko/
Say it nohn kah-PEES-koh
Learn this one on day one — you will need it constantly.
Cerco il mio libro.
I am looking for my book.
IPA /ˈtʃerko il ˈmio ˈlibro/
Say it CHEHR-koh eel MEE-oh LEE-broh
Ho trovato il ristorante!
I found the restaurant!
IPA /o troˈvato il ristoˈrante/
Say it oh troh-VAH-toh eel rees-toh-RAHN-teh
Penso che sia buono.
I think it is good.
IPA /ˈpɛnso ke ˈsia ˈbwɔno/
Say it PEHN-soh keh SEE-ah BWOH-noh
A handy phrase; the che-clause is simplified here for beginners.
Puoi aiutarmi?
Can you help me?
IPA /ˈpwɔi ajuˈtarmi/
Say it PWOY ah-yoo-TAHR-mee
Sono d'accordo.
I agree.
IPA /ˈsono dakˈkordo/
Say it SOH-noh dahk-KOR-doh
Vivo a Firenze da tre anni.
I have lived in Florence for three years.
IPA /ˈvivo a fiˈrɛntse da tre ˈanni/
Say it VEE-voh ah fee-REHN-tseh dah treh AH-nee
Dove dormi quando viaggi?
Where do you sleep when you travel?
IPA /ˈdove ˈdormi ˈkwando ˈvjaddʒi/
Say it DOH-veh DOR-mee KWAHN-doh VYAH-jee
Dialogues
At the bookshop in Bologna
Tom wants to buy a book and asks for help.
-
Tom
Buongiorno, cerco un libro in italiano.
Good morning, I am looking for a book in Italian.
-
Libraia
Buongiorno! Che tipo di libro vuole?
Good morning! What kind of book would you like?
-
Tom
Un libro facile. Voglio leggere e capire bene.
An easy book. I want to read and understand well.
-
Libraia
Questo è perfetto per chi impara. Mi piace molto.
This one is perfect for learners. I like it a lot.
-
Tom
Quanto costa?
How much does it cost?
-
Libraia
Dodici euro. Lo prendo? Sappiamo che le piace leggere!
Twelve euros. Shall I wrap it? We can see you like reading!
Planning a film night
Sara and Leo decide what to do this evening.
-
Sara
Vuoi guardare un film stasera?
Do you want to watch a film tonight?
-
Leo
Sì, mi piacciono i film italiani. Che film?
Yes, I like Italian films. Which film?
-
Sara
Non so. Sai consigliare qualcosa?
I do not know. Can you recommend something?
-
Leo
Mi piace La grande bellezza, ma è un po' lungo.
I like La grande bellezza, but it is a bit long.
-
Sara
Non importa. Voglio provare qualcosa di nuovo!
Never mind. I want to try something new!
-
Leo
Perfetto, sono d'accordo!
Perfect, I agree!
Exercises
Answer actively — try to recall the Italian before you look at any hint.
Choose the correct form of volere.
Io ___ un caffè.
Choose the correct form of sapere.
Tu ___ guidare?
Write the correct form.
volere — loro (present tense)
Write the correct form.
sapere — noi (present tense)
Write the correct form.
leggere — io (present tense)
Write the correct form.
capire — lui (present tense)
Fill the gap with the correct form of piacere.
Mi ___ la musica. (singular thing)
Fill the gap with the correct form of piacere.
Mi ___ i film italiani. (plural things)
Translate into Italian.
I want to learn Italian.
Translate into Italian.
I can speak English.
Translate into Italian.
I like Italian films.
Translate into Italian (informal).
Do you like pizza?
Translate into English.
Non so nuotare.
Translate into English.
Non capisco.
Choose the correct article.
___ studente (the student)
Choose the correct article.
___ libro (the book)
Tap the words in the correct order.
Build the sentence: I want to watch a film.
Tap the words in the correct order.
Build the sentence: I like the book.
Tap a verb, then its io form.
Match each verb to its io form.
True or false?
Mi piace is used when the thing liked is plural.
True or false?
lo studente takes lo because it starts with s + consonant.
Play the audio, then type exactly what you hear.
Listen and write the Italian sentence.
Play the audio, then pick the sentence.
Listen and choose what you hear.
Remove the negation.
Change: Non capisco. (Make it affirmative)
Say the sentence aloud, then reveal and rate yourself.
Mi piacciono i film italiani.
Speak now
Say three true sentences about yourself using each pattern: voglio + infinitive, so + infinitive, and mi piace/mi piacciono. Then ask a partner two questions from this lesson.
- Voglio imparare l'italiano. I want to learn Italian.
- So parlare inglese. I can speak English.
- Mi piace la musica italiana. I like Italian music.
- Vuoi un caffè? Do you want a coffee?
- Sono d'accordo! I agree!
Lesson checkpoint
Before you move on, make sure you can do all of this without looking:
- Say what you want and what you know how to do
- Use mi piace with singular and mi piacciono with plural things
- Choose il, lo or la for a new noun
- Form the plural of common nouns
- Say I agree and I do not understand without hesitation
Remember this
- volere: voglio, vuoi, vuole, vogliamo, volete, vogliono — + infinitive.
- sapere: so, sai, sa, sappiamo, sapete, sanno — so + infinitive = I know how to.
- mi piace = singular thing; mi piacciono = plural thing. The verb follows the thing.
- il/lo (masculine), la (feminine); plurals: -o→-i, -a→-e, lo→gli.
- Capisco un po' d'italiano — and Non capisco when you need help.
Go deeper: Modal verbs · Noun gender · Plurals · Present tense · Questions