meta_pixel
Tapesearch Logo
Log in
Learn Italian with Joy of Languages

50: Can you talk backwards like an Italian?

Learn Italian with Joy of Languages

Joy of Languages

Education, Italian Podcast, Language Learning, Courses, Italian Lessons, Learn Italian

4.81.2K Ratings

🗓️ 19 August 2018

⏱️ 8 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

The expressions "I like it" and "I miss you" can be a bit confusing in Italian, because they're backwards compared to in English. Let's practice using them!

Learn about our Online Italian School and get a free mini lesson every week: https://joyoflanguages.online/italian-school

Subscribe to our new Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@joyoflanguages.italian?sub_confirmation=1

Get the bonus materials for this episode: https://italian.joyoflanguages.com/podcast/backwards-verbs-italian

Join the Facebook group here: www.facebook.com/groups/5.minute.italian/

Today's Italian words

Mi piace = I like it (literally: to me, it pleases)

Mi dispiace = I'm sorry

Mi manca = I miss it (literally: to me, it misses)

Mi manchi = I miss you (literally: to me, you miss)

Mi piaci = I like you (literally: to me, you please)

Mi mancano = I miss them (literally: to me, they miss)

Mi piacciono = I like them (literally: to me, they please)

Mi piace la birra = I like beer (literally: to me, it pleases the beer)

Mi piacciono le patatine = I like crisps/chips (literally: to me, they please the chips)

Mi manca il bacon = I miss bacon (literally: to me, it misses the bacon)

Mi mancano i pub = I miss the pubs (literally: to me, they miss the pubs)

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

I like it, I miss you.

0:04.0

In the last couple of lessons we've been learning how to say like and miss in Italian.

0:10.0

These phrases are confusing at first because they're backwards compared to in English.

0:16.0

But practice makes perfect. The more you hear them and practice using them, the more automatic they become.

0:22.5

Practice using the verbs like and miss in Italian and learn a couple of important rules that will help you get them right.

0:29.8

In this episode of Five Minute Italian. Hi, all of all

0:43.3

and benvenutti at Five Minute Italian.

0:46.3

And I'm Mattieo.

0:48.3

And in the last few lessons, we've been learning how to use backwards verbs in Italian.

0:53.3

Like, I like like I like,

0:56.4

Piacere and I miss, mankare. So for this episode, you'll need some background knowledge

1:03.7

about how Ere verbs like Piacere and Aere verbs like mankare work so if this is completely new to you you can learn more about

1:15.8

these by listening to episodes 39 to 44 but if you feel okay you've got a bit of an idea about how these verbs

1:22.7

work then let's get on with today's lesson. We call these verbs like pietere and miss mankare backwards

1:33.2

because instead of saying I do something as we would in English,

1:38.6

Italians say it does something to me.

1:43.3

An example of this is the verb like.

1:46.3

Can you remember how to say I like it in Italian?

1:51.7

Literally to me it pleases.

1:57.9

Another example is I'm sorry. Can you remember how to say I'm sorry.

2:02.8

Can you remember how to say I'm sorry?

2:06.6

Me displeasure.

...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Joy of Languages, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Joy of Languages and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.

Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.