Italian Phrase
Mi piace correre all'aperto.
Meaning
Literally, ‘It pleases me to run outdoors.’ In everyday English this means ‘I like to run outdoors.’ The construction ‘mi piace + infinitive’ is the standard way to express personal preferences in Italian.
When to use
Use this sentence when you want to talk about a hobby or a regular activity you enjoy doing outside, such as during a conversation about fitness, weekend plans, or when comparing indoor vs. outdoor preferences.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Mipiacecorrereall'aperto
Mi (indirect object pronoun)
‘Mi’ is the first‑person singular indirect object pronoun, used with verbs like ‘piacere’ to indicate who likes something.
Piace (verb ‘piacere’)
‘Piace’ is the third‑person singular form of ‘piacere’; it agrees with the infinitive ‘correre’, which is treated as a singular noun.
Correre (infinitive verb)
The infinitive follows ‘piace’ and functions as the thing that is liked.
All' (contraction of a + il)
‘All'’ is the contraction of the preposition ‘a’ + the definite article ‘il’, used before a vowel‑initial word.
Aperto (adjective)
‘Aperto’ means ‘open’ and together with the preposition forms the phrase ‘all’aperto’ = ‘outdoors’.
🗨In Conversation
Ti piace fare sport?
Do you like doing sports?
Sì, mi piace correre all'aperto.
Yes, I like to run outdoors.
✕Common Mistakes
Mi piacciono correre all'aperto.
‘Piacciono’ is plural and is used when the liked thing is a plural noun, not an infinitive.
Mi piace correre fuori.
‘Fuori’ can be used, but ‘all’aperto’ is the idiomatic way to say ‘outdoors’ in this context.
Mi piace correre all' aperto.
Do not separate the article from the preposition; it must be contracted to ‘all’aperto’.
↔Alternatives
Mi piace fare jogging all'aperto.
I like to jog outdoors.
Adoro correre all'aria aperta.
I love running in the open air.
Mi diverte correre fuori.
I enjoy running outside.
Cultural Tip
In Italy, running in the early morning or late afternoon is common, especially in city parks, along the coast, or in the countryside. Italians often say ‘all'aria aperta’ (in the open air) instead of ‘all’aperto’, which is a slightly more formal variant. When speaking with locals, mentioning the specific place (e.g., ‘correre al Parco Sempione’) adds a natural touch.