Skip to content
How to say I like/dislike hobbies in Italian visualisation

How to say I like/dislike hobbies in Italian

Engage with Sports and Hobbies Vocabulary in Italian: How to say I like/dislike hobbies in Italian
Learn with Comprenders App About Comprenders

To say “I like hobbies” or talk about liking hobbies in Italian, the common phrase is:

  • Mi piace (I like) + the infinitive of the hobby or the noun describing it.
    Example: Mi piace ballare (I like dancing), Mi piace leggere (I like reading).

For “I dislike hobbies” or talking about disliking something, use:

  • Non mi piace (I don’t like) + the infinitive or noun.
    Example: Non mi piace nuotare (I don’t like swimming).

Some examples of hobbies and how to say you like them in Italian:

  • Mi piace ballare (I like dancing)
  • Mi piace dipingere (I like painting)
  • Mi piace fare fotografie (I like photography)
  • Mi piace cucinare (I like cooking)
  • Mi piace fare escursionismo (I like hiking)

To express stronger likes or dislikes:

  • Adoro (I love)
  • Odio (I hate)

The verb structure is often:

  • Mi piace + verb (infinitive) for activities you like doing.
  • Non mi piace + verb for activities you dislike.

The Italian word for hobby can be “hobby” (singular, borrowed from English) or “passatempo” which also means pastime.

Deeper Explanation of “Mi piace” and Verb Agreement

The phrase Mi piace literally means “It pleases me,” which explains why the verb agrees with the thing you like rather than with the speaker. When you use mi piace with a singular noun or infinitive verb, the verb stays singular, as in:

  • Mi piace la musica (I like music)
  • Mi piace ascoltare musica (I like listening to music)

For plural nouns, however, the correct phrase changes to Mi piacciono:

  • Mi piacciono i libri (I like books)
  • Mi piacciono gli sport (I like sports)

This distinction is important because a common mistake among learners is to say Mi piace i libri, which is incorrect.

Expressing Dislike More Clearly

Using Non mi piace is the standard way to express mild dislike:

  • Non mi piace correre (I don’t like running)

To express stronger dislike, especially when emphasizing hatred or aversion, use:

  • Odio (I hate)
  • Detesto (I detest)

Examples:

  • Odio fare ginnastica (I hate exercising)
  • Detesto guardare la tv (I detest watching TV)

Talking About Hobbies as Nouns vs. Activities

When referring to hobbies as nouns rather than activities, Italian often prefers using fare + activity or the infinitive verb form because Italian verbs express activities more naturally. For example:

  • Mi piace fare fotografie (I like photography, literally “to do photography”)
  • Mi piace leggere (I like reading)

If you want to use the noun directly, it’s possible but less common:

  • Mi piace la fotografia (I like photography)

This subtle difference can help learners sound more natural depending on whether the focus is on the action or the hobby as a concept.

Common Mistakes and Pitfalls

  • Incorrect verb agreement: Remember to match piace/piacciono with the subject, not with yourself. Say “Mi piace il calcio” (I like soccer) but “Mi piacciono i videogiochi” (I like video games).

  • Avoid dropping the “mi”: Saying “Piace leggere” without “mi” makes the phrase impersonal and incomplete. Always include the indirect object pronoun mi, which means “to me.”

  • Using piacere with personal pronouns: Do not confuse “mi piace” with “io piace.” The verb piacere uses indirect object pronouns (mi, ti, gli, le, ci, vi, gli) rather than subject pronouns.

Step-by-Step: How to Form “I Like/Dislike Hobbies” Sentences

  1. Identify if the hobby/activity is expressed as a noun or infinitive verb.
    • “Reading” = leggere (verb) or la lettura (noun)
  2. Choose the correct form of piacere based on singular or plural subject:
    • Singular hobby or verb: piace
    • Plural nouns: piacciono
  3. Add the correct indirect object pronoun matching the speaker:
    • mi (to me), ti (to you), gli (to him), le (to her), ci (to us), vi (to you all), gli (to them)
  4. Construct the sentence:
    • Mi piace leggere. (I like reading.)
    • Non mi piacciono i fumetti. (I don’t like comics.)
  5. To intensify, replace piacere with adoro or odio:
    • Adoro cucinare. (I love cooking.)
    • Odio fare jogging. (I hate jogging.)

More Hobby Vocabulary and Phrases

Adding to the list of common hobbies with their Italian names helps learners expand their options and usage:

  • Mi piace ascoltare musica (I like listening to music)
  • Mi piace viaggiare (I like traveling)
  • Mi piace giocare a calcio (I like playing soccer)
  • Mi piace fare yoga (I like doing yoga)
  • Mi piace scrivere (I like writing)
  • Mi piace disegnare (I like drawing)
  • Mi piace andare in bicicletta (I like cycling)

Using “Passatempo” and “Hobby”

While hobby is widely accepted and understood in Italian, passatempo is a more traditional Italian word meaning “pastime”:

  • Qual è il tuo passatempo preferito? (What is your favorite pastime/hobby?)

Both can be used, but passatempo often highlights a relaxing, casual activity rather than an intense passion or sport.

Summary

  • Use Mi piace + infinitive/noun to say you like an activity or hobby.
  • Use Non mi piace + infinitive/noun to say you dislike something.
  • Match the verb piacere to the thing liked (singular/plural).
  • Use adoro and odio to express stronger feelings.
  • Be aware of correct pronoun and verb agreements to avoid common mistakes.
  • Use hobby or passatempo as nouns for “hobby,” depending on context.

This structure allows learners to confidently express their preferences about hobbies in Italian, making conversation richer and more precise.

References

Open the App About Comprenders