italiano · A2 · vocabulary · 4 minutes
Household chores
Learn chores as natural action-object combinations and reflexive routines.
Understand the choice
A chore list is memorable through action-object pairs rather than bare tools. Notice which tasks use fare, a dedicated verb, or a directional phrase such as portare fuori.
Core rule: Fare il bucato, portare fuori la spazzatura, lavare i piatti, and passare l’aspirapolvere are household collocations.
Notice it in context
Oggi pulisco la cucina, faccio il bucato e porto fuori la spazzatura.
Today I clean the kitchen, do laundry, and take out the rubbish.
Pulisco, faccio, and porto share omitted io; cucina, bucato, and spazzatura are distinct objects.
Il mio coinquilino lava i piatti e riordina il soggiorno.
My flatmate washes dishes and tidies the living room.
Lava and riordina pair with two household objects.
La lavastoviglie è piena, quindi devo stirare dopo.
The dishwasher is full, so I have to iron later.
Lavastoviglie and stirare connect appliance state to another task.
What to remember
- Bucato is laundry/the wash; biancheria is linen or laundry as items.
- Spazzatura is waste; cestino is a wastebasket.
Common trap: Do not translate take out as prendere fuori; use portare fuori.