How to Say “What Are You Doing?” in Italian

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cosa stai facendo?
The Italian phrase for "what are you doing?" is cosa stai facendo?
This phrase is a question used to ask someone about the activity they are performing at the present moment. You may also see the standard variation che cosa stai facendo?, which adds che before cosa to form a common and grammatically standard way to say "what" in Italian.

What does it mean word for word?

The phrase cosa stai facendo? is composed of cosa (what), stai (you are – second person singular of stare) and facendo (doing – gerund of fare).

Which one should you use?

There are several forms depending on who you are addressing. Use cosa stai facendo? for an informal singular person, and cosa state facendo? when addressing more than one person (informal plural). For the polite singular, use cosa sta facendo? If you want to emphasize the word "you", you can use Tu cosa stai facendo? in an informal setting or Lei cosa sta facendo? in a polite setting.

How does it change in a sentence?

The form cosa sta facendo? can be used both to address a single person using the formal Lei register and to ask what a third person (he or she) is doing. When addressing a group of people, switch from the singular cosa stai facendo? to the plural cosa state facendo?

Did you know?

  • Italians frequently accompany the question cosa stai facendo? with a hand gesture, such as bringing the fingertips together in a purse shape, to add emphasis to the 'what'.
  • The word cosa actually descends from the Latin word causa, which means 'reason' or 'cause'.
  • The verb fare in facendo is one of the most versatile words in Italian and is used for things English uses different verbs for, such as 'making' a cake or 'taking' a shower.

Examples in context

  • Scusi, cosa sta facendo?
    Excuse me, what are you doing?
  • Signora Rossi, lei cosa sta facendo?
    Mrs. Rossi, what are you doing?
  • Ciao Luca, cosa stai facendo?
    Hi Luca, what are you doing?
  • Ragazzi, cosa state facendo?
    Guys, what are you doing?
  • Chiara, tu cosa stai facendo?
    Chiara, what are you doing?

Example conversation

Francesco calls Martina on the phone while she is at home.

  1. Francesco

    Ciao Martina, cosa stai facendo?
    Hi Martina, what are you doing?
  2. Martina

    Sto leggendo un libro molto interessante.
    I am reading a very interesting book.
  3. Francesco

    Ti disturbo?
    Am I disturbing you?
  4. Martina

    No, dimmi pure!
    No, go ahead and tell me!

Sources

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Landon Jordan
Landon JordanHelp make this guide better. Spot a mistake, know another way to say it, or have an example from real life? Share it below.
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