Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| fine settimana | /ˈfi.ne set.tiˈma.na/ | feminine, masculine |
| weekend | /wiˈkɛnd/ | masculine |
| intredima | feminine, uncommon |
The term refers to the break in the working week. You can use the phrase fine settimana di riposo to specifically describe a weekend that is focused on relaxation and rest.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase fine settimana is a literal composition of fine (end) and settimana (week), meaning "end of the week".
Which one should you use?
You may encounter the loanword weekend, which is very common in spoken Italian. While weekend is frequently used in place of the more traditional fine settimana, the latter remains the standard term.
How does it change in a sentence?
When used as a masculine noun, fine settimana takes the masculine article il. The phrase is invariable in the plural. If you are referring to multiple weekends, you only change the article to i (e.g., i fine settimana). Note that the form intredima is an uncommon feminine form.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /ˈfi.ne set.tiˈma.na/. It has 5 syllables, and the stress is on the 1st syllable.
Did you know?
- The Italian concept of the fine settimana is often tied to the 'fuori porta' custom, where city dwellers leave the city limits to avoid crowds.
- The word settimana shares a common ancestor with the English word 'september', as both trace back to the Latin 'septem' for 'seven'.
- In modern Italy, using the English word weekend is not seen as lazy, but as a standard part of the spoken lexicon used by all age groups.
Examples in context
- Che inizi il weekend.Let the weekend begin.This sentence uses the form weekend to express a wish for the weekend to start.Tatoeba #4613033 by Guybrush88, translation #3826265 by CK
- Passa un buon weekend!Have a good weekend!This sentence uses the form weekend to wish someone a good weekend.Tatoeba #2512488 by Guybrush88, translation #30070 by CK
- Si ammalò nel weekend.He became sick over the weekend.This sentence uses the form weekend to describe an event occurring over the weekend.Tatoeba #7969935 by Guybrush88, translation #7808123 by sharris123
- Spero che tu abbia un buon fine settimana.I hope you have a good weekend.
- 556 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Chiara and Lorenzo are talking on Friday afternoon.
- ChiaraCosa fai questo fine settimana?What are you doing this weekend?
- LorenzoVado in montagna con i miei amici.I am going to the mountains with my friends.
- ChiaraChe bello! Spero che il fine settimana sia soleggiato.That's great! I hope the weekend is sunny.
- LorenzoGrazie Chiara, a lunedì!Thanks Chiara, see you Monday!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “weekend” translations and entries fine settimana, weekend, intredima, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries fine, fine settimana, intredima, settimana, weekend, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
