How to Say 'I Like to Cook' in Italian: Talking About Activities, Not Foods
Learn to say mi piace cucinare and non mi piace cucinare, and understand why this pattern differs from liking a specific food.
By MarcusFood & cafés · Yapr Learn
To talk about enjoying an activity in Italian, you use a different structure from liking a thing. For 'I like to cook', say mi piace cucinare. For 'I don't like to cook', say non mi piace cucinare. The key is that cucinare is a verb, so it stays the same no matter who is speaking. This lesson teaches that pattern, its pronunciation, and how it differs from liking a particular dish.
By the end, you can…
- say that I like or don't like cooking in Italian.
- ask another person whether they like to cook.
- tell the difference between liking an activity and liking a food.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Mi piace cucinare.
I like to cook.
mee PYAH-cheh koo-chee-NAH-reh
Standard way to say you enjoy the activity of cooking. Cucinare is a verb, so it does not change for I, you, or we.
Non mi piace cucinare.
I don't like to cook.
nohn mee PYAH-cheh koo-chee-NAH-reh
Put non before mi piace to make it negative. The verb cucinare still stays the same.
Ti piace cucinare?
Do you like to cook?
tee PYAH-cheh koo-chee-NAH-reh
Informal question to one person. Use this with friends, family, and people your own age.
Le piace cucinare?
Do you like to cook?
leh PYAH-cheh koo-chee-NAH-reh
Formal question to one person. Use this with strangers, older people, or in professional situations.
Mi piace cucinare, ma non tutti i giorni.
I like to cook, but not every day.
mee PYAH-cheh koo-chee-NAH-reh, mah nohn TOOT-tee ee JOHR-nee
A natural way to add a limitation. Ma means 'but', and non tutti i giorni means 'not every day'.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The pattern is mi piace + verb in the infinitive. The infinitive is the dictionary form ending in -are, -ere, or -ire. Examples: Mi piace cucinare (I like to cook), Mi piace leggere (I like to read), Mi piace dormire (I like to sleep). Because cucinare is a verb, it does not change to cucino or cucini in this structure. You can also say Mi piace cucinare la pasta to mean you like cooking pasta, but the activity itself is still the main idea.
When to use it
Use mi piace cucinare when you are talking about the activity in general. Use mi piace la pasta when you are talking about a food you like. The difference matters: Mi piace cucinare means you enjoy the act of cooking, while Mi piace la pasta means you enjoy eating pasta. If you want to say you like a specific dish, use the noun: Mi piace la pizza. If you want to say you like making it, use the verb: Mi piace fare la pizza.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Ti piace cucinare?
Do you like to cook?tee PYAH-cheh koo-chee-NAH-rehSì, mi piace cucinare, ma non mi piace lavare i piatti.
Yes, I like to cook, but I don't like washing the dishes.see, mee PYAH-cheh koo-chee-NAH-reh, mah nohn mee PYAH-cheh lah-VAH-reh ee PYAHT-teeCapisco. A me non piace cucinare, preferisco mangiare.
I understand. I don't like to cook, I prefer to eat.kah-PEE-skoh. ah MEH nohn PYAH-cheh koo-chee-NAH-reh, preh-feh-REE-skoh mahn-JAH-rehAllora cucino io stasera!
Then I'll cook tonight!ahl-LOH-rah koo-CHEE-noh EE-oh stah-SEH-rahA little context goes a long way
In Italian, mi piace is literally 'it is pleasing to me', so the thing liked is the subject. This is why you say mi piace cucinare, not io piace cucinare. In informal speech, some speakers in central and southern Italy use mi va di cucinare, which means 'I feel like cooking', alongside mi piace cucinare. In formal writing, stick to mi piace.
One thing to watch for
Saying Io piace cucinare or Mi piace cucino.
Try this instead: Use mi piace + infinitive: Mi piace cucinare. Do not use the subject pronoun io before piace, and do not conjugate cucinare. The correct negative is Non mi piace cucinare.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you say 'I like to cook' in Italian?
Show a sample answer
Mi piace cucinare.
This uses mi piace with the infinitive cucinare. It is the standard way to express liking the activity.
2How do you say 'I don't like to cook'?
Show a sample answer
Non mi piace cucinare.
Add non before mi piace. The verb cucinare stays in the infinitive. You could also say Non mi piace cucinare per niente for 'I don't like to cook at all'.
3What is the difference between Mi piace cucinare and Mi piace la pasta?
Show a sample answer
Mi piace cucinare means 'I like to cook' (an activity). Mi piace la pasta means 'I like pasta' (a food).
The first uses a verb, the second uses a noun with an article. Both are correct but express different kinds of liking.
Use mi piace + infinitive for activities like cooking. Use mi piace + noun for foods. Keep cucinare unchanged, and add non for the negative.
Progress is saved on this browser.
Practice real time conversations on Yapr for faster learning.
Put today’s Italian into a conversation with an AI tutor. Speak, make mistakes, and try again.
Practice on Yapr