Italian · People & Family
"What do you do? (for work)" in Italian: Che lavoro fai?
Che lavoro fai?
Note: formal: Che lavoro fa?
What do you do in Italian is Che lavoro fai? with tu. Formal: Che lavoro fa? Answer with faccio l'insegnante or lavoro come…
Networking aperitivo
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How to pronounce Che lavoro fai?
Say it
keh lah-VOH-roh fahy
/ke laˈvo.ro fai/
Che lavoro fai: keh lah-VOH-roh fahy. Stress VOH.
"What do you do? (for work)" in Italian: quick reference
| Italian | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| Che lavoro fai? | What do you do? (tu) Friends and peers. | Friends and peers. |
| Che lavoro fa? | What do you do? (Lei) Formal note. | Formal note. |
| di che lavoro ti occupi? | what work do you do? Slightly fuller. | Slightly fuller. |
| lavoro come… | I work as… Answer pattern. | Answer pattern. |
How to use Che lavoro fai? in real life
- 1Networking aperitivo
Piacere—che lavoro fai?
Nice to meet you—what do you do?
Intro.
- 2Train chat
Scusa la curiosità: che lavoro fai?
Sorry for asking: what do you do?
Polite curiosity.
- 3Friend of a friend
Allora, che lavoro fai adesso?
So, what do you do now?
Update.
Mistakes English speakers make with Che lavoro fai?
Incorrect: Cosa fai? (when you clearly mean job)
Correct: Che lavoro fai?
Cosa fai? often means what are you up to right now.
Incorrect: Che lavoro fai? to a stranger older boss without care
Correct: Che lavoro fa?
Use Lei form fa in formal settings.
Good to know
Italians ask Che lavoro fai? early in friendly conversation. Answers often use fare + article: faccio l'avvocato. Students may say studio… instead. Formal rooms switch to Che lavoro fa?
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Meeting someone at a courtyard party
ChatPal
Ciao! Che lavoro fai?
Hi! What do you do?
You
Insegno inglese—e tu, che lavoro fai?
I teach English—and you, what do you do?
ChatPal
Lavoro in un bar vicino.
I work in a nearby bar.
You
Bello—passo a trovarti.
Nice—I'll drop by.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"What do you do? (for work)" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "What do you do? (for work)" in Italian
Tu form?
Che lavoro fai?
Formal?
Che lavoro fa?
How to answer?
Faccio l'insegnante / lavoro come…
Student?
Studio… or sono uno studente.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
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- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
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