Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| compito | /ˈkom.pi.to/ /ˈkɔm.pi.to/ |
masculine |
| compiti | /ˈkom.pi.ti/ /ˈkɔm.pi.ti/ |
masculine, plural |
compito refers to work done at home. In Italian, it is very common to use the plural form compiti to refer to the general concept of homework.
What does it mean word for word?
The singular form compito literally means 'task', 'duty' or 'assignment'.
Which one should you use?
While the English word 'homework' is uncountable, Italian almost always use the plural compiti when referring to school assignments.
How does it change in a sentence?
When you want to say 'to do homework', use the specific collocation fare i compiti.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈkom.pi.to/. It has 3 syllables and the stress is on the 1st syllable.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use the singular compito to refer to their general schoolwork. In natural Italian, the plural compiti is much more common for the general concept of homework.
Did you know?
- The word compito evolved from the verb compitare, which meant 'to spell' or 'to enunciate' clearly. This links the modern idea of a school assignment to the ancient practice of reciting lessons aloud.
- In Italian, compito does not just refer to schoolwork but can describe any moral or social 'duty'. A person might speak of their compito toward their family or country.
- The singular compito can specifically refer to a 'composition' or an essay written for a grade. In this context, it describes the final product rather than the process of studying.
Examples in context
- Fai i compiti ora.Do your homework now.This sentence is useful for practicing the verb with the plural compiti.Tatoeba #1839067 by Guybrush88, translation #570180 by CK
- Io ho dei compiti.I have homework.This sentence shows how to express having compiti.Tatoeba #2433224 by Guybrush88, translation #2245886 by CK
- Io non ho compiti.I don't have any homework.Tatoeba #7482259 by Guybrush88, translation #5388616 by Hybrid
- Ho finito i miei compiti.I finished my homework.
- Il professore ha assegnato molti lavori per casa.The professor assigned a lot of homework.
- Hai fatto i compiti per casa?Did you do the homework?
- Hai i compiti di matematica?Do you have math homework?
- 927 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Giulia and Alessandro are talking in the living room.
- GiuliaHai finito ogni singolo compito?Did you finish every single homework assignment?
- AlessandroNo, mi manca ancora un compito.No, I still have one assignment left.
- GiuliaDi quale materia è il compito?Which subject is the homework for?
- AlessandroÈ un compito di storia.It is a history assignment.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “homework” translations and entries compito, compiti, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries compito, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
