How To Say Done In Italian

When learning Italian, one of the first verbs you encounter is fare (to do/make), but translating the simple English word "done" requires a bit more nuance. Think about it: depending on the context—whether you are finishing a task, cooking a meal, agreeing to a deal, or describing a completed action—the Italian translation changes significantly. Mastering these variations is essential for sounding natural and avoiding the textbook trap of using a single word for every situation.

The Grammar Foundation: Fatto as the Past Participle

The most direct translation of "done" is fatto, the past participle of the verb fare (to do, to make). So because Italian verbs agree in gender and number with the subject or object, fatto changes its ending. This is the first hurdle for English speakers, as "done" never changes form in English.

Here are the four standard forms:

• Fatto (Masculine Singular): Ho fatto i compiti. (I did the homework / The homework is done.)
• Fatta (Feminine Singular): La torta è fatta. (The cake is done.)
• Fatti (Masculine Plural): I lavori sono fatti. (The jobs are done.)
• Fatte (Feminine Plural): Le pulizie sono fatte. (The cleaning chores are done.)

Crucial Grammar Note: When using the passato prossimo (present perfect) tense with the auxiliary verb avere (to have), the past participle usually remains masculine singular (fatto) unless there is a preceding direct object pronoun (lo, la, li, le) Surprisingly effective..

• Ho fatto la spesa. (I did the grocery shopping.) — Fatto stays masculine because la spesa follows the verb.
• L'ho fatta. (I did it [feminine, e.g., la spesa].) — Fatta agrees with the pronoun la (l').

When using the auxiliary essere (to be)—common with reflexive verbs or passive constructions—the participle always agrees with the subject And that's really what it comes down to..

• Mi sono fatto male. (I hurt myself / I got hurt — male speaker.)
• Mi sono fatta male. (I hurt myself — female speaker.)
• La cena è fatta. (Dinner is done/ready.)

Context 1: "I’m Finished" vs. "It Is Finished"

English speakers often say "I'm done" to mean "I have finished." In Italian, you cannot say Sono fatto (which implies "I am made" or, colloquially, "I am ruined/doomed"). You must distinguish between the person finishing and the thing being finished Easy to understand, harder to ignore. Still holds up..

When YOU are the one finishing (Intransitive)

Use the verb finire (to finish) with the auxiliary avere.

• Ho finito. (I am done / I have finished.) — The most standard, neutral way to say you completed a task.
• Ho terminato. (I have completed / terminated.) — Slightly more formal.
• È finita. (It’s over / It’s done.) — Used for events, movies, relationships, or difficult periods.

When SOMETHING is finished (Transitive / Passive)

Use finire with essere (passive) or the adjective finito.

• Il lavoro è finito. (The work is finished/done.)
• Il film è finito. (The movie is over.)
• Sono finite le vacanze. (The holidays are over.)

The Adjective Finito

Finito acts as an adjective meaning "finished," "over," or "exhausted." It agrees in gender/number.

• Soldi finiti. (Money gone / run out.)
• Pazienza finita. (Patience run out / "I'm done putting up with this.")

Context 2: Cooking and Food — "Is it Done?"

If you are hosting a dinner party, asking È fatto? regarding a steak or pasta sounds slightly odd. Italian culinary vocabulary is specific.

Cotto (Cooked)

This is the standard term for "done" regarding heat application.

• La pasta è cotta? (Is the pasta cooked/done?)
• La carne è ben cotta. (The meat is well done.)
• Al dente — The prized state of pasta "to the tooth" (firm but not hard). If you overcook it, it is scotta (overcooked/mushy).

Pronto (Ready)

Often, "Is dinner done?" translates to "Is dinner ready?"

• La cena è pronta. (Dinner is ready/done.)
• Sei pronto? (Are you ready/done getting ready?)

Fatto in Recipes

You will see fatto in written instructions: Quando il sugo è fatto, spegni il fuoco. (When the sauce is done/made, turn off the heat.)

Context 3: Agreements, Deals, and "It's a Deal"

In business or bargaining, "Done!Plus, " signifies agreement. **Do not use fatto here.

Fatto! / Affare fatto!

• A: "Ti do 50 euro per la bici." B: "Fatto!" / "Affare fatto!" (A: "I'll give you 50 euros for the bike." B: "Done! / Deal!")
• È un affare fatto. (It's a done deal.)

D'accordo (Agreed / Okay)

• Ci vediamo alle 8? D'accordo. (See you at 8? Done / Agreed / Okay.)

Stabilito / Concordato (Settled / Agreed upon)

• È stabilito. (It's settled / It's a done deal — more formal.)

Context 4: "Done" as an Exclamation of Completion

Sometimes "Done!" is an exclamation of triumph after finishing a difficult task.

• Ecco fatto! (There! Done! / That does it!) — The classic phrase used after fixing something, assembling furniture, or solving a problem.
• Fatto! (Done!) — Short, punchy, often used when checking items off a mental list.
• Sistemato! (Sorted! / Fixed! / Taken care of!) — Implies you handled a problem or organized a mess.

Context 5: Idiomatic Expressions and Nuanced Phrases

Italian is rich with idioms where "done" translates to completely different concepts.

1. Avere fatto il suo tempo (To have had its day / To be done for)

Used for objects, trends, or people whose useful time is over.

• Questo telefono ha fatto il suo tempo. (This phone is done for / obsolete.)

2. Essere spacciato / Essere fritto (To be done for / Toast / Finished)

Colloquial and dramatic. Used when someone is in inevitable trouble.

• Se mia moglie scopre che ho perso l'anello, sono spacciato. (If my wife finds out I lost the ring, I'm done for.)
• Siamo fritti. (We're toast / done for.)

3. Non ne posso più (I'm done / I can't take it anymore)

Emotional exhaustion.

• *B

Basta, non ne posso più. (Enough, I'm done / I can't take it anymore.)

4. Chiudere i conti / Regolare i conti (To settle the score / Be done with someone)

Implies a final confrontation or settling a debt (literal or metaphorical).

• Una volta per tutte, dobbiamo chiudere i conti. (Once and for all, we need to be done with this / settle this.)

5. Avere le mani in pasta (To have a finger in the pie / To be involved)

While not a direct translation of "done," learners often confuse fatto (done/made) with fatto (fact/deed). Remember: un fatto is a fact or event; fatto as an adjective is "done."

6. Fatto sta che... (The fact is... / The bottom line is...)

A crucial connector to sound native when concluding an explanation And that's really what it comes down to..

• Non volevo offenderti. Fatto sta che hai frainteso. (I didn't mean to offend. The bottom line is / The fact remains that you misunderstood.)

Quick Reference Cheat Sheet

The "Passato Prossimo" Trap: A Final Grammar Note

Because fatto is the past participle of fare, learners often default to Ho fatto for "I did" / "I made" / "I finished."

• Correct: Ho fatto i compiti. (I did the homework.)
• Correct: Ho finito i compiti. (I finished the homework.)

If you want to say "I am done with the homework" (state of being), use essere + adjective:

• I compiti sono fatti. (The homework is done — passive voice/state.Which means )
• *Ho finito i compiti. * (I have finished the homework — active perfect tense.

Conclusion

Mastering "done" in Italian isn't about memorizing a single vocabulary word; it is about reading the room Most people skip this — try not to..

Are you in the kitchen? Plus, ** Assembling an IKEA bookshelf? Even so, closing a business deal? And stand back, admire your work, and declare **Ecco fatto! ** Dragging yourself to bed after a 12-hour shift? Plus, reach for pronto or cotto. Slap the table with a confident Fatto! or **Affare fatto!A groaned Non ne posso più speaks volumes.

Language lives in these distinctions. The moment you stop translating "done" and start selecting the right Italian tool for the specific job, you aren't just speaking Italian—you're thinking in it. And that, amici, è fatta.