Many Italian learners know the verb piacere, but when it comes to saying “I enjoy something,” they often reach for the wrong one.
Both piacere and godersi express enjoyment, but in very different ways. Let’s explore how and when to use each one, so you can sound more natural and confident when speaking Italian.
Piacere = (To Like)
The verb piacere literally means “to be pleasing (to someone).”
You use it when something or someone gives you pleasure, like a person, a type of food, or an activity.
Remember: In Italian, piacere works differently from English: the thing you like becomes the subject
Examples:
- Mi piace la pizza. → “I like pizza.”
- Ti piacciono i viaggi. → “You like trips.”
- Le piace leggere. → “She likes reading.”
Read more: how to conjugate “piacere” in Italian
Godersi = (To Enjoy or Savor Something)
The verb godersi (from godere, “to enjoy”) is reflexive, and means to truly enjoy, to savor, to take pleasure in an experience.
You use it when you want to say that you are actively enjoying something yourself.
Examples:
- Mi godo il weekend al mare. → I’m enjoying my weekend at the beach.
- Ci siamo goduti la vacanza in Sicilia. → We really enjoyed our holiday in Sicily.
- Goditi la serata! → Enjoy your evening.
Remember: godersi is always reflexive, which means it must be used with a reflexive pronoun. The correct present tense conjugation is: mi godo, ti godi, si gode, ci godiamo, vi godete, si godono.
English vs Italian: Common Mistakes
Many English speakers get confused between piacere and godersi, because both translate as “to enjoy” in English, but in Italian, they work differently.
It depends on what you are enjoying.
When to Use Piacere
Use piacere when you enjoy doing something
Use piacere with verbs in the infinitive or with things you like in general.
Correct:
- Mi piace viaggiare. → I enjoy traveling.
- Ti piace cucinare? → Do you like cooking?
- Ci piace guardare film italiani. → We like watching Italian movies.
- A Marco piace ballare il tango. → Marco enjoys dancing the tango.
Incorrect:
- Mi godo viaggiare. (You can’t use godersi with verbs.)
When to Use Godersi
Use godersi when you enjoy something directly
Godersi means to savor or fully experience something.
It’s used with nouns: a meal, a trip, a moment, a sunset.
Correct:
- Mi godo la cena. → I’m enjoying the dinner.
- Ci siamo goduti la vacanza in Sicilia. → We really enjoyed our holiday in Sicily.
- Goditi il film! → Enjoy the movie!
Incorrect:
- Mi godo viaggiare. ✘ (You can’t say “I enjoy traveling” with godersi — it must be Mi piace viaggiare.)
Watch Out! Be Careful with Godere Without the Reflexive Part:
Don’t drop the reflexive pronoun (mi, ti, si, ci, vi, si).
Without it, the verb godere can take on a very different, often sexual, meaning in Italian.
