At The Iceberg Project, we’re big believers in incorporating Italian into everyday tasks as a way to further your learning and vocabulary. So, we got to thinking, what is something everyone does every day, but maybe has no idea how to say in Italian?

Enter the dreaded “chores” list that all of us have (and maybe some of us actually do on the daily).

Next time you have to complete these less-than-fun tasks, perhaps thinking of them and practicing saying them in Italian will make them more enjoyable (almeno speriamo!).

Read on to learn how to discuss all things faccende or chores related below!

• Apparecchiare il tavolo – To set the table
• Sparecchiare il tavolo – To clear the table
• Cucinare – To cook
• Fare il giardinaggio – To do the gardening
• Fare il letto – To make the bed
• Fare la spesa – To do the food shopping
• Lavare la biancheria / Fare la lavatrice – To do the laundry
• Lavare i piatti – To do the dishes
• Passare l’aspirapolvere – To do the vacuuming
• Spazzare il pavimento – To sweep the floor
• Spolverare – To dust
• Stirare – To iron
• Piegare i vestiti – To fold the clothes
• Pulire il wc (water closet) / pulire la tazza del wc – To clean the toilet, to clean the toilet bowl
• Pulire il bagno – To clean the bathroom
• Passare lo straccio sul pavimento – To mop the floor
• Cambiare / sostuirre la lampadina – To change the lightbulb
• La scopa – Broom
• La paletta – Dustpan
• Lo spazzolone per il pavimento / il mocio – Mop
• Il ferro da stiro – Iron
• Lo straccio per il polvere – Dust cloth

Want to see how these words might look in real life? Here is a dialogue based on real couples everywhere.

ITALIAN DIALOGUE

Moglie: Amore, mi puoi aiutare oggi con le faccende?

Marito: Certo! Dimmi cosa devo fare però…

Moglie: OK, allora tu puoi stirare le camicie, lavare i piatti e poi prendere i vestiti dall’asciugatrice e piegarli.

Marito: Nessun problema……dove trovo il ferro da stiro?

Moglio: Lo trovi nell’armadio.

Marito: OK, e dov’è il sapone per i piatti?

Moglie un po’ frustrata: Tesoro, è già lì fuori!

Marito: OK, e che cosa faccio con i vestiti dopo che dopo che li ho piegati?

Moglio molto frustrata: Dai, allora niente! Faccio tutto io!

Marito ridendo: Scherzavo! Tranquilla, non ti preoccupare, penso io a tutto. Ma, hai visto quanto sarebbe facile  convincerti che non sono in grado di fare le faccende?

Moglie con un sorriso: Oh caro mio, quanto sei furbo!

ENGLISH TRANSLATION

Wife: Love, can you help me with the chores?

Husband: Of course! But tell me what I need to do…

Wife: OK, you can iron the shirts, wash the dishes and then take the clothes from the dryer and fold them.

Husband: OK no problem. But, where do I find the iron?

Wife: You’ll find it in the closet.

Husband: OK, and where is the soap for the plates?

Slightly frustrated wife: Darling, it’s already out there!

Husband: OK, and what do I do with the clothes once they are folded?

Very frustrated wife: Come on, never mind! I’ll do everything!

Laughing husband: I was kidding! Relax, don’t worry I’ll handle everything. But, did you see how easy it would be to convince you that I am not capable of helping with chores?

Smiling wife: Oh my dear, you are so clever!

How about you? Do you mind doing chores? What are your favorite and least favorite chores? Let us know (in Italian) below!