The Italian verb "fare" is one of the most essential and versatile verbs you'll encounter in your Italian learning journey. It corresponds to the English verb "to do" or "to make," but its usage extends far beyond these simple translations. As an irregular verb, fare appears in countless expressions, idioms, and everyday conversations that form the backbone of Italian communication.
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FAQ Schema Question: What does "fare" mean in Italian? Answer: "Fare" is an Italian verb that primarily means "to do" or "to make" in English. It is an irregular verb used in many contexts including actions, activities, weather expressions, mathematical operations, and numerous idiomatic expressions. Examples include "fare i compiti" (to do homework), "fare colazione" (to have breakfast), and "fare freddo" (to be cold - weather).
Educational Schema Course: Italian for English Speakers Lesson Number: 15 Topic: The verb "fare" (to do/to make) Level: Beginner to Intermediate Type: Language Learning Material Learning Objectives: Understanding and using the Italian verb "fare" in various contexts Target Audience: English-speaking autodidacts learning Italian
In this lesson, we will explore 15 carefully crafted examples demonstrating how "fare" is used in different contexts. Each example progresses from simple daily activities to more complex idiomatic expressions. You'll notice how "fare" often requires different English translations depending on context - sometimes "do," sometimes "make," and often other verbs entirely in idiomatic expressions.
Key Takeaways: -
"Fare" is an irregular verb meaning "to do" or "to make" -
It is used in many daily expressions where English uses different verbs -
Present tense conjugation: faccio, fai, fa, facciamo, fate, fanno -
Past participle: fatto (used with auxiliary "avere") -
"Fare" appears in weather expressions, time expressions, and numerous idioms -
Understanding "fare" is crucial for basic Italian communication
15.1 Io I faccio do/make colazione breakfast ogni every mattina morning alle at the sette seven
15.2 Cosa What fai do you do nel in the tempo time libero free?
15.3 Marco Marco fa does/makes sempre always i the compiti homework dopo after cena dinner
15.4 Noi We facciamo make una a torta cake per for il the compleanno birthday di of Anna Anna
15.5 I The bambini children fanno make troppo too much rumore noise in in classe class
15.6 Oggi Today fa it makes/is molto very freddo cold e and nevica it snows
15.7 Voi You (plural) fate do sport sport tre three volte times alla to the settimana week?
15.8 La The mamma mom fa does la the spesa shopping al at the mercato market il the sabato Saturday
15.9 Quanto How much fa makes/is cinque five più plus otto eight?
15.10 Gli The studenti students devono must fare do/take un an esame exam difficile difficult domani tomorrow
15.11 Mia My sorella sister fa does/is l' the insegnante teacher di of matematica mathematics
15.12 Facciamo Let's make una a pausa break di of dieci ten minuti minutes
15.13 Non Not fare do/make tardi late stasera tonight per for favore please!
15.14 Il The cuoco cook ha has fatto made un a piatto dish delizioso delicious con with i the funghi mushrooms
15.15 Dobbiamo We must fare make attenzione attention quando when attraversiamo we cross la the strada street
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15.1 Io faccio colazione ogni mattina alle sette. I have breakfast every morning at seven.
15.2 Cosa fai nel tempo libero? What do you do in your free time?
15.3 Marco fa sempre i compiti dopo cena. Marco always does his homework after dinner.
15.4 Noi facciamo una torta per il compleanno di Anna. We are making a cake for Anna's birthday.
15.5 I bambini fanno troppo rumore in classe. The children make too much noise in class.
15.6 Oggi fa molto freddo e nevica. Today it's very cold and it's snowing.
15.7 Voi fate sport tre volte alla settimana? Do you do sports three times a week?
15.8 La mamma fa la spesa al mercato il sabato. Mom does the shopping at the market on Saturday.
15.9 Quanto fa cinque più otto? What is five plus eight?
15.10 Gli studenti devono fare un esame difficile domani. The students must take a difficult exam tomorrow.
15.11 Mia sorella fa l'insegnante di matematica. My sister is a mathematics teacher.
15.12 Facciamo una pausa di dieci minuti. Let's take a ten-minute break.
15.13 Non fare tardi stasera per favore! Don't be late tonight please!
15.14 Il cuoco ha fatto un piatto delizioso con i funghi. The cook made a delicious dish with mushrooms.
15.15 Dobbiamo fare attenzione quando attraversiamo la strada. We must pay attention when we cross the street.
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15.1 Io faccio colazione ogni mattina alle sette.
15.2 Cosa fai nel tempo libero?
15.3 Marco fa sempre i compiti dopo cena.
15.4 Noi facciamo una torta per il compleanno di Anna.
15.5 I bambini fanno troppo rumore in classe.
15.6 Oggi fa molto freddo e nevica.
15.7 Voi fate sport tre volte alla settimana?
15.8 La mamma fa la spesa al mercato il sabato.
15.9 Quanto fa cinque più otto?
15.10 Gli studenti devono fare un esame difficile domani.
15.11 Mia sorella fa l'insegnante di matematica.
15.12 Facciamo una pausa di dieci minuti.
15.13 Non fare tardi stasera per favore!
15.14 Il cuoco ha fatto un piatto delizioso con i funghi.
15.15 Dobbiamo fare attenzione quando attraversiamo la strada.
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Grammar Rules for "Fare"
The Italian verb "fare" is an irregular verb that requires special attention. Unlike regular -are verbs, fare has unique forms that must be memorized.
Present Tense Conjugation: -
io faccio (I do/make) -
tu fai (you do/make - informal singular) -
lui/lei fa (he/she does/makes) -
noi facciamo (we do/make) -
voi fate (you do/make - plural) -
loro fanno (they do/make)
Past Participle: fatto (done/made) Used with auxiliary verb "avere": ho fatto (I have done/made)
Imperative Forms: -
fa'/fai (do/make - informal singular) -
faccia (do/make - formal singular) -
facciamo (let's do/make) -
fate (do/make - plural) -
facciano (do/make - formal plural)
Common Mistakes: -
Conjugation errors: Many learners say "io faco" instead of "io faccio" - remember the double 'c' in the first person singular. -
Wrong auxiliary verb: "Fare" uses "avere" not "essere" in compound tenses. Say "ho fatto" not "sono fatto." -
Literal translations: Don't translate word-for-word from English. "To have breakfast" is "fare colazione" not "avere colazione." -
Weather expressions: In Italian, weather "does" - "fa caldo" (it's hot), literally "it does hot." English speakers often forget this construction. -
Professional expressions: "Fare il medico" means "to be a doctor" not "to make the doctor."
Comparing Italian and English:
Where English uses various verbs (have, take, pay, be), Italian often uses "fare": -
fare colazione = have breakfast -
fare una foto = take a photo -
fare attenzione = pay attention -
fare tardi = be late
Step-by-Step Guide to Using "Fare": -
First, identify if your English sentence uses do, make, have, take, or be in specific contexts -
Check if it's an idiomatic expression that uses "fare" in Italian -
Conjugate "fare" according to the subject -
Remember that "fare" + definite article + profession = to be a (profession) -
For weather, use third person singular: fa caldo, fa freddo
Summary of "Fare" Usage: -
Basic meaning: to do, to make -
Extended meanings: to have (meals), to take (photos/exams), to be (professions/weather) -
Irregular conjugation in present tense -
Forms many idiomatic expressions -
Essential for daily communication
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Understanding "fare" provides a window into Italian culture and mindset. Italians conceptualize many actions differently than English speakers, and this is reflected in their use of "fare."
Meal Culture: Italians "do" their meals (fare colazione/pranzo/cena) rather than "have" them, suggesting meals are active events requiring preparation and participation, not passive consumption. This reflects the Italian emphasis on food as a social and cultural activity.
Professional Identity: When Italians say "faccio il medico" (I do the doctor), they're expressing that being a doctor is something they actively do, not just something they are. This reflects a more dynamic view of professional identity.
Weather as Action: Italian weather "does" things (fa caldo = it does hot) rather than simply "being" hot. This personification of weather is common in Romance languages and reflects a more animated view of natural phenomena.
Social Expressions: Many social interactions use "fare" - fare una passeggiata (take a walk), fare due chiacchiere (have a chat), fare festa (celebrate). These expressions emphasize the active, deliberate nature of Italian social life.
Time and Punctuality: "Fare tardi" (to be late, literally "to do late") suggests lateness is an active choice rather than a passive state. However, the famous Italian flexibility with time means this expression is heard frequently!
Idiomatic Richness: The abundance of "fare" expressions demonstrates Italian's preference for vivid, action-oriented language over abstract concepts. This makes Italian particularly expressive and animated.
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Source: From "Le avventure di Pinocchio" by Carlo Collodi, Chapter 3
Geppetto Geppetto tornò returned a to casa house e and si himself mise put subito immediately a to fare make il the burattino puppet. Prima First gli to him fece he made i the capelli hair, poi then la the fronte forehead, poi then gli the occhi eyes. Fatti Made gli the occhi eyes, immaginatevi imagine yourselves la the sua his meraviglia wonder quando when si himself accorse he noticed che that gli the occhi eyes si themselves muovevano moved.
Geppetto tornò a casa e si mise subito a fare il burattino. Prima gli fece i capelli, poi la fronte, poi gli occhi. Fatti gli occhi, immaginatevi la sua meraviglia quando si accorse che gli occhi si muovevano.
Geppetto returned home and immediately set about making the puppet. First he made the hair, then the forehead, then the eyes. Having made the eyes, imagine his wonder when he noticed that the eyes were moving.
Geppetto tornò a casa e si mise subito a fare il burattino. Prima gli fece i capelli, poi la fronte, poi gli occhi. Fatti gli occhi, immaginatevi la sua meraviglia quando si accorse che gli occhi si muovevano.
This passage beautifully demonstrates multiple uses of "fare" in literary Italian. Collodi uses "fare" in both its infinitive form ("a fare il burattino" - to make the puppet) and its passato remoto form ("fece" - he made). The phrase "si mise a fare" is an idiomatic construction meaning "set about making" or "began to make," showing how "fare" combines with other verbs to create nuanced meanings.
The repetition of "fece" (he made) emphasizes the creative, methodical process of Geppetto's work. The past participle "fatti" in "fatti gli occhi" (having made the eyes) shows the absolute construction common in literary Italian.
This excerpt also demonstrates how "fare" is the natural verb for creation and craftsmanship in Italian, reinforcing its meaning as an active, productive verb rather than mere "doing." For English speakers, note that while we might say "carved" or "crafted," Italian uses the more general "fare" allowing context to provide specificity.
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15.16 Domani Tomorrow facciamo we make/do un a viaggio trip a to Venezia Venice in in treno train
15.17 I The turisti tourists fanno make/take molte many foto photos del of the Colosseo Colosseum ogni every giorno day
15.18 Quando When arriviamo we arrive all' at the hotel hotel dobbiamo we must fare do il the check-in check-in alla at the reception reception
15.19 Facciamo Let's make una a prenotazione reservation per for il the ristorante restaurant sul on the mare sea stasera tonight
15.20 La The guida guide turistica touristic fa does/gives un a tour tour della of the città city in in inglese English e and italiano Italian
15.21 Quanto How much tempo time ci to us vuole it wants per to fare make/do il the percorso route da from Roma Rome a to Firenze Florence?
15.22 I The viaggiatori travelers devono must fare make/do la the fila line per for comprare to buy i the biglietti tickets
15.23 Facciamo We make sempre always la the valigia suitcase la the sera evening prima before di of partire departing
15.24 Il The cameriere waiter ci to us ha has fatto made un a ottimo excellent caffè coffee napoletano Neapolitan
15.25 Non Not dimenticare forget di to fare make il the passaporto passport prima before del of the viaggio trip!
15.26 Abbiamo We have fatto made/done un a giro tour in in gondola gondola per through i the canali canals di of Venezia Venice
15.27 La The receptionist receptionist fa makes/speaks un an ottimo excellent inglese English e and può can aiutarti help you
15.28 Dove Where possiamo can we fare do/exchange il the cambio exchange degli of the euro euros in into dollari dollars?
15.29 I The miei my amici friends hanno have fatto made amicizia friendship con with altri other turisti tourists italiani Italian
15.30 Prima Before di of fare making shopping shopping controlliamo let's check gli the orari schedules dei of the negozi shops
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15.16 Domani facciamo un viaggio a Venezia in treno. Tomorrow we're taking a trip to Venice by train.
15.17 I turisti fanno molte foto del Colosseo ogni giorno. Tourists take many photos of the Colosseum every day.
15.18 Quando arriviamo all'hotel dobbiamo fare il check-in alla reception. When we arrive at the hotel we must check in at the reception.
15.19 Facciamo una prenotazione per il ristorante sul mare stasera. Let's make a reservation for the restaurant by the sea tonight.
15.20 La guida turistica fa un tour della città in inglese e italiano. The tour guide gives a city tour in English and Italian.
15.21 Quanto tempo ci vuole per fare il percorso da Roma a Firenze? How long does it take to do the route from Rome to Florence?
15.22 I viaggiatori devono fare la fila per comprare i biglietti. Travelers must stand in line to buy tickets.
15.23 Facciamo sempre la valigia la sera prima di partire. We always pack our suitcase the evening before departing.
15.24 Il cameriere ci ha fatto un ottimo caffè napoletano. The waiter made us an excellent Neapolitan coffee.
15.25 Non dimenticare di fare il passaporto prima del viaggio! Don't forget to get your passport before the trip!
15.26 Abbiamo fatto un giro in gondola per i canali di Venezia. We took a gondola ride through the canals of Venice.
15.27 La receptionist fa un ottimo inglese e può aiutarti. The receptionist speaks excellent English and can help you.
15.28 Dove possiamo fare il cambio degli euro in dollari? Where can we exchange euros for dollars?
15.29 I miei amici hanno fatto amicizia con altri turisti italiani. My friends made friends with other Italian tourists.
15.30 Prima di fare shopping controlliamo gli orari dei negozi. Before going shopping let's check the store hours.
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15.16 Domani facciamo un viaggio a Venezia in treno.
15.17 I turisti fanno molte foto del Colosseo ogni giorno.
15.18 Quando arriviamo all'hotel dobbiamo fare il check-in alla reception.
15.19 Facciamo una prenotazione per il ristorante sul mare stasera.
15.20 La guida turistica fa un tour della città in inglese e italiano.
15.21 Quanto tempo ci vuole per fare il percorso da Roma a Firenze?
15.22 I viaggiatori devono fare la fila per comprare i biglietti.
15.23 Facciamo sempre la valigia la sera prima di partire.
15.24 Il cameriere ci ha fatto un ottimo caffè napoletano.
15.25 Non dimenticare di fare il passaporto prima del viaggio!
15.26 Abbiamo fatto un giro in gondola per i canali di Venezia.
15.27 La receptionist fa un ottimo inglese e può aiutarti.
15.28 Dove possiamo fare il cambio degli euro in dollari?
15.29 I miei amici hanno fatto amicizia con altri turisti italiani.
15.30 Prima di fare shopping controlliamo gli orari dei negozi.
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Special Travel Uses of "Fare"
In travel contexts, "fare" takes on numerous specialized meanings that English speakers must learn as fixed expressions:
Common Travel Expressions with "Fare": -
fare un viaggio = take a trip -
fare la valigia = pack a suitcase -
fare il biglietto = buy a ticket -
fare la fila/la coda = stand in line -
fare il check-in = check in -
fare una prenotazione = make a reservation -
fare foto = take photos -
fare un giro = take a tour/ride -
fare shopping = go shopping -
fare il passaporto = get a passport -
fare il cambio = exchange money -
fare amicizia = make friends -
fare tardi = be late -
fare presto = hurry up
Language Note: "Fare" + language means "to speak": -
fare inglese = speak English -
fare italiano = speak Italian
Time Expressions in Travel: -
Quanto tempo ci vuole per fare...? = How long does it take to do...? -
fare in tempo = be on time -
fare una pausa = take a break
Common Mistakes in Travel Contexts: -
Using "prendere" instead of "fare": Say "fare una foto" not "prendere una foto" (though both are heard, fare is more traditional) -
Forgetting idiomatic uses: "fare la valigia" not "preparare la valigia" -
Wrong prepositions: "fare un viaggio A Venezia" not "fare un viaggio IN Venezia" -
Literal translations: "to stand in line" is "fare la fila" not "stare in fila"
Cultural Tips for Travelers: -
Italians often use "fare" in giving directions: "Fai diritto" (go straight) -
"Fare bella figura" (make a good impression) is crucial in Italian culture -
"Fare due passi" (take a short walk) is a common after-meal activity
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