The verb faciō (to do, to make) is one of the most versatile and frequently used verbs in Latin. It belongs to the 3rd conjugation -iō type, which means it has some special forms that differ from regular 3rd conjugation verbs. This verb is essential for conversational Latin as it appears in countless everyday expressions and idiomatic phrases.
faciō, facere, fēcī, factum - to do, to make, to cause, to bring about, to perform, to accomplish
Question: What does faciō mean in Latin? Answer: Faciō means "to do" or "to make" in Latin. It is a 3rd conjugation -iō verb that expresses the action of creating, performing, or causing something to happen.
In this lesson, you'll encounter faciō in various conversational contexts, including: -
Questions about what someone is doing -
Descriptions of making or creating things -
Expressions of causing something to happen -
Idiomatic phrases common in Latin conversation -
Responses about completed or future actions
Course: Conversational Latin for English Speakers Level: Intermediate Topic: Essential Verbs - faciō Skills: Reading, Grammar, Conversation Language: Latin (with English glosses)
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faciō is an -iō verb of the 3rd conjugation with irregular perfect stem (fēc-) -
It can mean both "do" and "make" depending on context -
Common in questions: "Quid facis?" (What are you doing?) -
Forms many compound verbs (perficiō, conficiō, etc.) -
Often takes double accusative construction -
Essential for expressing causative actions
32.1 Quid what hodiē today facis are you doing amīce friend?
32.2 Ego I pānem bread faciō am making in in culīnā kitchen.
32.3 Facitne does make pater father tuus your vīnum wine?
32.4 Nōn not facit he makes sed but emit buys.
32.5 Quid what fēcistī did you do herī yesterday vespere evening?
32.6 Cēnam dinner optimam excellent fēcī I made amīcīs for friends.
32.7 Crās tomorrow iter journey longum long faciēmus we will make.
32.8 Cūr why hoc this facis are you doing tam so celeriter quickly?
32.9 Magister teacher nōs us Latīnē in Latin loquī to speak facit makes.
32.10 Quis who haec these things omnia all fēcit did?
32.11 Faciuntne do they make puellae girls vestēs clothes novās new?
32.12 Mē me laetum happy facis you make tuīs with your verbīs words.
32.13 Nihil nothing facere to do possum I can sine without tē you.
32.14 Multum much labōris work faciendum to be done est is nōbīs by us.
32.15 Bene well fēcistī you did quod because vēnistī you came.
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32.1 Quid hodiē facis, amīce? What are you doing today, friend?
32.2 Ego pānem faciō in culīnā. I'm making bread in the kitchen.
32.3 Facitne pater tuus vīnum? Does your father make wine?
32.4 Nōn facit, sed emit. He doesn't make it, but buys it.
32.5 Quid fēcistī herī vespere? What did you do yesterday evening?
32.6 Cēnam optimam fēcī amīcīs. I made an excellent dinner for my friends.
32.7 Crās iter longum faciēmus. Tomorrow we'll take a long journey.
32.8 Cūr hoc facis tam celeriter? Why are you doing this so quickly?
32.9 Magister nōs Latīnē loquī facit. The teacher makes us speak Latin.
32.10 Quis haec omnia fēcit? Who did all these things?
32.11 Faciuntne puellae vestēs novās? Are the girls making new clothes?
32.12 Mē laetum facis tuīs verbīs. You make me happy with your words.
32.13 Nihil facere possum sine tē. I can do nothing without you.
32.14 Multum labōris faciendum est nōbīs. Much work must be done by us.
32.15 Bene fēcistī quod vēnistī. You did well to come.
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32.1 Quid hodiē facis, amīce?
32.2 Ego pānem faciō in culīnā.
32.3 Facitne pater tuus vīnum?
32.4 Nōn facit, sed emit.
32.5 Quid fēcistī herī vespere?
32.6 Cēnam optimam fēcī amīcīs.
32.7 Crās iter longum faciēmus.
32.8 Cūr hoc facis tam celeriter?
32.9 Magister nōs Latīnē loquī facit.
32.10 Quis haec omnia fēcit?
32.11 Faciuntne puellae vestēs novās?
32.12 Mē laetum facis tuīs verbīs.
32.13 Nihil facere possum sine tē.
32.14 Multum labōris faciendum est nōbīs.
32.15 Bene fēcistī quod vēnistī.
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faciō is a 3rd conjugation -iō verb, which means it follows a special pattern that combines elements of both 3rd and 4th conjugations.
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faciō - I do, I make (present) -
facere - to do, to make (infinitive) -
fēcī - I did, I have done (perfect) -
factum - done, made (supine/past participle)
Present Indicative Active: -
faciō - I do/make -
facis - you do/make -
facit - he/she/it does/makes -
facimus - we do/make -
facitis - you (pl.) do/make -
faciunt - they do/make
Imperfect Indicative Active: -
faciēbam - I was doing -
faciēbās - you were doing -
faciēbat - he/she was doing -
faciēbāmus - we were doing -
faciēbātis - you (pl.) were doing -
faciēbant - they were doing
Future Indicative Active: -
faciam - I will do -
faciēs - you will do -
faciet - he/she will do -
faciēmus - we will do -
faciētis - you (pl.) will do -
facient - they will do
The perfect stem is fēc- (note the long ē): -
fēcī - I did/have done -
fēcistī - you did/have done -
fēcit - he/she did/has done -
fēcimus - we did/have done -
fēcistis - you (pl.) did/have done -
fēcērunt - they did/have done
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Confusing with regular 3rd conjugation: Students often forget that faciō has -iō in the first person, not just -ō -
Perfect stem: The perfect is fēcī, not *facuī (note the long ē) -
Imperative: The imperative is fac (not *face), plural facite -
Passive forms: In the passive, faciō becomes fīō (an irregular verb meaning "to become, to be made") -
Double accusative: Forgetting that faciō can take two accusatives (e.g., "tē rēgem faciō" - I make you king)
Unlike English, which uses auxiliary verbs ("am making," "will make"), Latin expresses these meanings through verb endings alone. The English "do" as an auxiliary (e.g., "Do you make...?") has no equivalent in Latin; questions are formed by adding -ne or using question words.
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Identify the subject - Who is doing/making? -
Choose the correct tense - When is the action happening? -
Select the right person and number - Match the verb to your subject -
Consider the object - What is being done/made? -
Check for special constructions - Double accusative? Causative use?
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Causative: facit mē rīdēre (he makes me laugh) -
Double Accusative: tē amīcum faciō (I make you a friend) -
With infinitive: facit hoc fierī (he causes this to happen) -
Idiomatic: iter facere (to make a journey = to travel)
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The verb faciō held central importance in Roman daily life and thought. Romans were practical people who valued action and accomplishment, making this verb essential for expressing their worldview.
In Roman society, "facere" encompassed not just physical creation but also social and religious actions. The phrase "sacra facere" meant to perform religious rites, while "grātiās facere" meant to give thanks. Business transactions used "pactum facere" (to make an agreement).
The Roman concept of "doing" differed from modern Western ideas. For Romans, "facere" implied completing an action with purpose and result. This explains why they often used different verbs for incomplete or attempted actions (like cōnārī - to try).
In conversation, Romans frequently used faciō in polite expressions. "Quid facis?" served as both a literal question and a greeting, similar to "How are you doing?" The response "bene faciō" meant both "I'm doing well" and "I'm acting properly."
Roman education emphasized "doing" over abstract thinking. Students learned by "facere" - copying texts, reciting speeches, and practicing rhetoric. This practical approach influenced how faciō appears in educational texts and dialogues.
The passive form fīō (to become, to be made) reflected Roman beliefs about transformation and fate. They saw many life changes as things that "happened" to them rather than choices they made, revealing their worldview through grammar.
Common expressions with faciō often translated poorly into English because they encoded Roman values. "Fidem facere" (to create trust) showed how Romans viewed trust as something actively built, not passively felt.
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From Erasmus, Colloquia Familiaria, "De Rebus Ac Vocabulis" (adapted):
32.16 Salvē greetings mercātor merchant Quid what hodiē today in in forō the forum facis are you doing
32.17 Salvē greetings et and tū you Negōtium business magnum great faciō I am doing cum with multīs many emptōribus buyers
32.18 Quid what generis kind rērum of things vēndis are you selling Facisne are you making ipse yourself haec these
32.19 Pānem bread et and placentās cakes faciō I make manē in the morning prīmā first lūce light
32.20 Quandō when incipiēs will you begin facere to make pānem bread cotīdiē daily
32.21 Ante before sōlis the sun's ortum rising surgō I rise et and statim immediately labōrem work faciō I do
32.22 Quot how many pānēs breads facere to make potēs are you able ūnō one diē day
32.23 Centum one hundred ferē about pānēs breads et and quīnquāgintā fifty placentās cakes facere to make possum I am able
32.24 Magnum great opus work facis you do Sōlusne alone an or cum with aliīs others
32.25 Uxor my wife mea my mēcum with me labōrat works et and optimē excellently placentās cakes facit makes
32.26 Quid what faciētis will you do post after merīdiem midday hodiē today
32.27 Domum home ībimus we will go et and cēnam dinner familiāe for the family faciēmus we will make
32.28 Facitisne do you do semper always tantum so much labōrem work
32.29 Ita yes sed but laetī happy sumus we are quia because honestum honest vīctum livelihood facimus we make
32.30 Bene well dīcis you speak Fortūnam good fortune bonam good tibī to you faciō I make precēs prayers
Quid nunc facis, mī Henrīce? Nihilne agis? Immō vērō multa faciō. Quid tandem? Litterās discō et amīcōs meōs docēre cōnor. Bene facis. Sed cūr nōn etiam versūs facis? Quod ea rēs difficilior est quam ut eam facere possim.
What are you doing now, my dear Henry? Are you doing nothing? On the contrary, I'm doing many things. What then? I'm studying literature and trying to teach my friends. You do well. But why don't you also compose verses? Because that matter is too difficult for me to be able to do.
Quid nunc facis, mī Henrīce? Nihilne agis? Immō vērō multa faciō. Quid tandem? Litterās discō et amīcōs meōs docēre cōnor. Bene facis. Sed cūr nōn etiam versūs facis? Quod ea rēs difficilior est quam ut eam facere possim.
This dialogue showcases several uses of faciō: -
facis - 2nd person singular present, in a direct question -
faciō - 1st person singular, emphatic response -
bene facis - idiomatic expression meaning "you do well" -
versūs facis - "make verses" = compose poetry -
facere possim - infinitive with potential subjunctive
Note the contrast between facere and agere (both meaning "to do"), where agere implies general activity while facere suggests specific accomplishment. The dialogue also demonstrates result clause construction ("difficilior...quam ut...possim").
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Quid what nunc now facis are you doing, mī my Henrīce Henry? Nihilne nothing agis are you doing? Immō on the contrary vērō truly multa many things faciō I do. Quid what tandem then? Litterās letters discō I learn et and amīcōs friends meōs my docēre to teach cōnor I try. Bene well facis you do. Sed but cūr why nōn not etiam also versūs verses facis do you make? Quod because ea that rēs thing difficilior more difficult est is quam than ut that eam it facere to do possim I may be able.
32.16 Salvē, mercātor! Quid hodiē in forō facis? Hello, merchant! What are you doing in the market today?
32.17 Salvē et tū! Negōtium magnum faciō cum multīs emptōribus. Hello to you too! I'm doing great business with many buyers.
32.18 Quid generis rērum vēndis? Facisne ipse haec? What kind of things do you sell? Do you make these yourself?
32.19 Pānem et placentās faciō manē prīmā lūce. I make bread and cakes early in the morning light.
32.20 Quandō incipiēs facere pānem cotīdiē? When do you begin making bread daily?
32.21 Ante sōlis ortum surgō et statim labōrem faciō. I rise before sunrise and immediately set to work.
32.22 Quot pānēs facere potēs ūnō diē? How many loaves can you make in one day?
32.23 Centum ferē pānēs et quīnquāgintā placentās facere possum. I can make about a hundred loaves and fifty cakes.
32.24 Magnum opus facis! Sōlusne an cum aliīs? You do great work! Alone or with others?
32.25 Uxor mea mēcum labōrat et optimē placentās facit. My wife works with me and makes excellent cakes.
32.26 Quid faciētis post merīdiem hodiē? What will you do after noon today?
32.27 Domum ībimus et cēnam familiāe faciēmus. We'll go home and make dinner for the family.
32.28 Facitisne semper tantum labōrem? Do you always do so much work?
32.29 Ita, sed laetī sumus quia honestum vīctum facimus. Yes, but we're happy because we make an honest living.
32.30 Bene dīcis! Fortūnam bonam tibī faciō precēs! Well said! I pray for good fortune for you!
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32.16 Salvē, mercātor! Quid hodiē in forō facis?
32.17 Salvē et tū! Negōtium magnum faciō cum multīs emptōribus.
32.18 Quid generis rērum vēndis? Facisne ipse haec?
32.19 Pānem et placentās faciō manē prīmā lūce.
32.20 Quandō incipiēs facere pānem cotīdiē?
32.21 Ante sōlis ortum surgō et statim labōrem faciō.
32.22 Quot pānēs facere potēs ūnō diē?
32.23 Centum ferē pānēs et quīnquāgintā placentās facere possum.
32.24 Magnum opus facis! Sōlusne an cum aliīs?
32.25 Uxor mea mēcum labōrat et optimē placentās facit.
32.26 Quid faciētis post merīdiem hodiē?
32.27 Domum ībimus et cēnam familiāe faciēmus.
32.28 Facitisne semper tantum labōrem?
32.29 Ita, sed laetī sumus quia honestum vīctum facimus.
32.30 Bene dīcis! Fortūnam bonam tibī faciō precēs!
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This market dialogue demonstrates several important uses of faciō in conversational contexts:
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Quid facis? - Direct question using 2nd person singular -
Facisne...? - Yes/no question with enclitic -ne -
Facitisne...? - Plural form for addressing multiple people
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negōtium facere - to do business (lit. "to make business") -
labōrem facere - to work (lit. "to make labor") -
vīctum facere - to make a living -
precēs facere - to pray (lit. "to make prayers")
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cotīdiē (daily) - adverb modifying the infinitive -
manē prīmā lūce - ablative of time when -
post merīdiem - prepositional phrase indicating future time
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facere potēs - "you are able to make" -
facere possum - "I am able to make" The infinitive completes the meaning of the modal verb
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faciētis - 2nd person plural future -
faciēmus - 1st person plural future Note how future plans are expressed naturally in conversation
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optimē facit - "makes excellently" (adverb modifying verb) -
statim faciō - "I immediately make" (adverb of time)
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pānem et placentās - coordinated direct objects -
centum pānēs et quīnquāgintā placentās - numeric specification
The dialogue follows typical Roman conversational patterns: -
Opening greeting (salvē) -
Initial inquiry about activity -
Follow-up questions for detail -
Expression of admiration or support -
Closing good wishes
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