faticata
/fa.tiˈka.ta/feminine
In Italian, 'hard work' can be expressed as faticata or operosità.
Meaning: something requiring lots of effort to do (noun)
Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| faticata | /fa.tiˈka.ta/ | feminine |
| operosità | feminine |
The term is used to describe something requiring a lot of effort. Colloquially, the phrase una faticata is often used to describe a task that was particularly exhausting or was a real struggle/hard slog.
Which one should you use?
faticata usually refers to a specific, singular instance of a difficult task or a strenuous effort.
How does it change in a sentence?
Both faticata and operosità are feminine nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
The word faticata is pronounced /fa.tiˈka.ta/. It has 4 syllables, with the stress on the 3rd syllable.
Did you know?
- The root of faticata is shared with the English word 'fatigue'. While 'fatigue' describes the state of being tired, faticata emphasizes the specific event or task that caused that exhaustion.
- The word operosità comes from the Latin 'opus', meaning 'work'. This same root is found in the English word 'opus', used to describe a major artistic work, linking industriousness to creative production.
- Italians may use the phrase che faticata! as an exclamation. In this context, it functions like 'what a chore!' and is often said with a sigh or a gesture of exhaustion rather than as a formal description.
Examples in context
- Apprezzo il tuo duro lavoroI appreciate your hard work
- Il tuo intenso impegno è evidenteYour intense commitment is evident
- Il tuo impegno costante ha portato a questi risultatiYour constant hard work has led to these results
Example conversation
Giulia and Alessandro are cleaning a very messy room.
- GiuliaChe faticata pulire tutta questa stanza!What hard work it is to clean this whole room!
- AlessandroHai ragione, Giulia, è davvero stancante.You are right, Giulia, it is really tiring.
- GiuliaPossiamo fare una pausa adesso?Can we take a break now?
- AlessandroSì, Alessandro è d'accordo.Yes, Alessandro agrees.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “hard work” translations and entries faticata, operosità, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
