Vorrei…
Vorrei is the most common translation for I would like in Italian.
Vorrei…
I would like…
This is because, unlike English, Italian doesn’t use a helper verb to conjugate conditional verbs. It uses verb endings.
For example, you can say…
Vorrei un gelato alla fragola, per favore.
I would like a strawberry ice cream, please.
Vorrei non averti mai incontrato!
I wish I had never met you!
Vorrei una brioche e un cappuccino, grazie.
I would like a croissant and a cappuccino, thank you.
Vorrei is the first-person singular conditional conjugation of volere, to want, which is a modal verb.
Mi piacerebbe…
Another less common translation for I would like in Italian is mi piacerebbe.
This changes the whole structure of the sentence. Mi piacerebbe can be translated literally as “to me it would like”. The verb also changes: it’s piacere, literally to like.
Mi piacerebbe…
I would like…
So what’s the difference between vorrei and mi piacerebbe? They are quite similar.
You use vorrei when you want something, like ordering food, expressing a need, or making a wish. It’s often used to ask for things in shops and restaurants.
You use mi piacerebbe mainly to express a wish. For example, you can say…
Mi piacerebbe tenere un cane, ma casa mia non ha un giardino.
I would like to have a dog, but my house does not have a garden.
Mi piacerebbe trasferirmi in montagna.
I would like to move to the mountains.
Mi piacerebbe visitare New York un giorno.
I would like to visit New York City one day.
More free Italian resources
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