The Italian Verb Files
FARE
For our next Italian verb of The Italian Verb Files we are going to look at… FARE!
FARE means “to do / to make” in English. While this is true most of the time, there are lots of examples where it can mean other things too. We’ll see more about this in the expressions and idioms down below!
FARE is irregular in many tenses such as the presente, the imperfetto, its past participle (fatto), etc. So when you are conjugating it, double check if you are unsure.
FARE - Italian Verb Conjugation Table
Click to download for FREE! — The Italian Verb Files – Verb Conjugation – Fare
This Italian Verb Conjugation Chart with FARE shows you the most common Italian verb tenses (3 more subjunctive verb tenses not on here).
Use it as a quick and easy reference sheet for your Italian verb conjugation!
FARE with the Weather
One of the first areas that you will often hear “FARE” used frequently, is when Italians talk about the weather.
Here are some of the most common Italian weather expressions that use it:
First, we have the QUESTION:
“What is the weather like (today)?” = Che tempo fa (oggi)?
And the ANSWERS to that question…
- Fa caldo! = It’s hot!
- Fa freddo! = It’s cold!
- Fa fresco! = It’s fresh out! (It’s brisk!)
- Fa bel tempo. = The weather is nice.
- Fa brutto tempo. = The weather is terrible.
**Note how all the responses are with “fa”, the third personal singular form of “fare”.**
FARE with Sports and Hobbies
The next category in which you will hear FARE used a lot, is with Italian sports and hobbies!
While there are specific words for “to play” (giocare) and “to play” an instrument (suonare), FARE is used throughout the category for a variety of purposes.
QUESTION: Che cosa fai nel tempo libero? = What do you do in your free time?
Here are some examples of ANSWERS with FARE:
- fare sport = to play sports
- fare ginnastica = to exercise
- fare una corsa = to go for a run
- fare una passeggiata = to go for a walk
- fare snowboard = snowboarding
- fare surf = surfing
- fare ciclismo = to go cycling
- fare yoga = to do yoga
FARE with Italian Daily Tasks / Around the House
- fare i compiti = to do homework
- fare il bucato = to do the laundry
- fare il letto = to make the bed
- fare colazione = to have breakfast
- fare la doccia = to have a shower
- fare il bagno = to have a bath / go for a swim
- fare le pulizie = to do the cleaning
- fare le faccende = to do the chores
- fare la spesa = to go grocery shopping
- fare le spese = to go shopping
- fare il pieno = to fill the tank with gas
- fare una lista = to make a list
- fare due passi = to go for a walk / stroll
- fare un pisolino = to take a nap
- fare una pausa = to take a break
- fare una telefonata / una chiamata = to make a phone call
- fare una domanda = to ask a question
- fare festa = to celebrate / take the day off
- fare presto = to be early
- fare tardi = to be late
- fare in tempo = to do something on time
- fare la fila / la coda = to wait in line
- fare forca = to play hooky
Italian Phrases and Expressions with "FARE"
I know what you’re thinking… WOW there are a lot of uses for FARE in Italian! And it’s true…
But on the bright side, once you memorize the conjugation of FARE, it is really easy to improve your overall fluency by adding in new expressions!
Next up, I put some more common Italian phrases and expressions that didn’t fit into the other categories above:
- fare finta (di) = to pretend (to)
- fare due chiacchiere = to chat
- fare lo stupido / fare il cretino = to act stupidly
- fare una foto(grafia) = to take a picture
- fare vedere = to show someone something
- fare male = to hurt / be painful
- fare castelli in aria = to daydream
- fare danno = to damage
- fare senso = to disgust (**In Italian “to make sense” is AVERE SENSO, not fare senso**)
- fare attenzione = to pay attention
- fare il bravo / la brava = to act nicely
- fare una bella / brutta figura = to make a good / bad impression
- fare a botte = to fight
- fare schifo = to be gross / disgusting
- fare il biglietto = to buy a ticket
- fare un brindisi = to make a toast
- fare pace = to make up
- fare di tutto = to do everything possible
- fare confusione = to create confusion
- fare rumore = to make noise
- fare alla romana = to split the check
- fare da sé = to do something on your own
- fai da te = DIY
- fare impressione = to shock (in a bad way)
- fare colpo = to impress (shock in a good way)
- fare storie = to complain
- fare caso = to notice
- fare una brutta fine = to come to a bad end
- lasciare fare = to leave something alone
- fare da mangiare = to cook
Italian Idioms with "FARE"
Okay, this is the LAST section about things you can do with the verb FARE! And we have arrived at Italian idioms that use this verb.
Let’s take a look at some of the most common ones:
- Tra il dire e il fare c’è di mezzo il mare = There’s a big difference between saying something and doing it – (literally: “between the saying and the doing, there is the sea”)
- Chi non fa non falla = Who doesn’t try, never fails – (literally: “Who doesn’t do, doesn’t make a mistake”)
- Tutto fa brodo = Every little bit helps – (literally: “everything makes broth”)
- Fare buon viso a cattivo gioco = to pretend that everything is fine when it actually isn’t – (literally: “to make a good face to a bad game”)
- Fare i conti senza l’oste = to do what you want without considering others – (literally: “to make a deal without the host”)
- Chi fa da sé fa da tre = If you want something done, do it yourself (literally: “who does for himself, does for 3”)
- Fare un buco nell’acqua = to fail (literally: “to make a hole in the water”)
- Fare orecchie da mercante = to turn a blind eye to something – (literally: “to do the ears of a merchant”)
- L’abito non fa il monaco = Appearances can be deceiving (literally: “the habit doesn’t make the monk”)
- Fare un freddo cane = To be really cold (literally: “to make a cold dog”)
- Fare il diavolo a quattro = To make a big fuss (literally: “to make the devil in four”)
- Fare il passo più lungo della gamba = To bite off more than you can chew (literally: “to make the step longer than the leg”)
Thanks for reading, I know this was a long one! I hope you discovered some new ways to use FARE and some interesting new Italian expressions along the way!
Did I miss an Italian expression with FARE that you like? Have you heard many of these before? Let me know in the comments!
If you are interested in more Italian idioms and expressions with common verbs, check out my posts on the Italian verbs ESSERE and AVERE!
Italian Grammar Worksheets
Looking for more Italian grammar practice for your class?
Check out these Italian worksheets in the present tense and the passato prossimo! More available on my TPT site.
