fare caso
to pay attention
Phrase in 30 Seconds
Use 'fare caso' to describe the act of noticing a detail or paying attention to something someone said or did.
- Means: To notice or pay attention to a specific detail.
- Used in: Social settings, pointing out changes, or dismissing minor mistakes.
- Don't confuse: With 'hacer caso' in Spanish, which means to obey.
Explanation at your level:
Bedeutung
Noticing or focusing on something.
Kultureller Hintergrund
Italians often use 'fare caso' to compliment someone's appearance. Noticing a new accessory or a haircut is considered a sign of respect and attention to the person. In the South, 'non farci caso' is frequently used as a hospitality tool. If a guest feels awkward, the host will use this phrase repeatedly to make them feel at home. In the world of 'Alta Moda', 'fare caso' is a technical necessity. Designers and tailors must 'fare caso' to the smallest stitch or thread quality. On Instagram, 'Non fateci caso' is a popular caption for 'photo dumps' or messy, candid photos, signaling that the user knows the photo isn't perfect.
The 'Ci' Trick
If you want to sound like a native, stop saying 'fare caso a quello'. Just say 'farci caso'. It's shorter and much more natural.
Spanish Speakers Beware
Remember: Italian 'fare caso' is NOT Spanish 'hacer caso'. If you want to say 'Listen to me!', don't use this phrase.
Bedeutung
Noticing or focusing on something.
The 'Ci' Trick
If you want to sound like a native, stop saying 'fare caso a quello'. Just say 'farci caso'. It's shorter and much more natural.
Spanish Speakers Beware
Remember: Italian 'fare caso' is NOT Spanish 'hacer caso'. If you want to say 'Listen to me!', don't use this phrase.
Social Softener
Use 'Non farci caso' liberally. It's the ultimate social lubricant in Italy to make people feel less embarrassed.
Teste dich selbst
Fill in the missing preposition and verb form.
Hai ______ caso ______ mio nuovo orologio?
The correct collocation is 'fare caso a'. In the past tense, it becomes 'fatto caso a'.
Choose the best response to comfort a friend who just tripped.
A: 'Ops! Sono inciampato davanti a tutti!' B: '________'
'Non farci caso' is the standard way to tell someone not to worry about a small embarrassment.
Complete the dialogue using the correct particle.
A: 'C'è un errore nel testo.' B: 'Davvero? Non ______ avevo fatto caso.'
The particle 'ci' is used with 'fare caso' to mean 'notice it'.
Match the sentence to the context.
Sentence: 'Fai caso a come si veste.'
'Fare caso a come si veste' means 'Notice how they dress'.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Fare Caso vs. Notare
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 FragenNot exactly. While 'fare attenzione' can mean 'be careful', 'fare caso' is strictly about noticing or registering a detail.
Yes! 'Fare caso a qualcuno' means to notice someone or pay attention to them. 'Lui non mi fa mai caso' means 'He never notices me.'
It is always 'fatto caso'. Adding the article 'il' is a common mistake for English speakers.
'Notare' is more neutral and factual. 'Fare caso' is more idiomatic and often used in social contexts to dismiss or highlight details.
The most natural way is 'Non ci ho fatto caso'.
Yes, but 'prestare attenzione' is slightly more professional. 'Fare caso' is perfectly fine for internal team communications.
Yes, you can follow it with a clause: 'Fai caso che lui non mangia mai carne.' (Notice that he never eats meat.)
In writing, it is 'farci caso' (two words, with the 'e' of 'fare' dropped). In speech, it sounds like one.
Because the phrase is 'fare caso A qualcosa'. The particle 'ci' replaces 'a + something', whereas 'lo' replaces a direct object.
Yes: 'Ci farai caso quando lo vedrai.' (You will notice it when you see it.)
Verwandte Redewendungen
accorgersi di
similarTo realize or notice
prestare attenzione
synonymTo pay attention
dare retta a
contrastTo listen to/obey
mettere a fuoco
builds onTo bring into focus
Wo du es verwendest
At a restaurant
A: Hai fatto caso a quanto è salata questa pasta?
B: Sì, hai ragione. Non ci avevo fatto caso all'inizio.
With a clumsy friend
A: Oddio, ho versato un po' di vino!
B: Tranquillo, non farci caso. Puliamo subito.
In a clothing store
A: Fai caso alla qualità di questo tessuto.
B: È incredibile, sembra seta pura.
On a first date
A: Hai fatto caso che abbiamo ordinato la stessa cosa?
B: È vero! Che coincidenza simpatica.
At the office
A: Avete fatto caso al calo delle vendite questo mese?
B: Sì, stiamo analizzando i dati proprio ora.
Walking in the city
A: Non avevo mai fatto caso a questa statua.
B: Nemmeno io, eppure passiamo di qui ogni giorno.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of a 'Case' (caso) file. When you 'make a case' in your head, you are filing away a detail you noticed.
Visual Association
Imagine a giant magnifying glass hovering over a small, bright red button on a gray wall. The act of looking through the glass is 'fare caso'.
Rhyme
Se un dettaglio vuoi notare, 'fare caso' devi usare!
Story
Imagine you are at a party in Milan. You see a friend with one blue shoe and one red shoe. You whisper to another friend, 'Hai fatto caso alle sue scarpe?' (Did you notice his shoes?). The friend laughs and says, 'Non farci caso, è un artista!' (Don't mind it, he's an artist!).
Word Web
Herausforderung
Today, find three small things in your room that you usually ignore. Point at them and say out loud: 'Faccio caso a [oggetto]'.
In Other Languages
Darse cuenta / Prestar atención
Italian 'fare caso' = notice; Spanish 'hacer caso' = obey.
Remarquer / Faire attention
French 'faire attention' is more about caution than simple observation.
Beachten / Bemerken
German lacks a direct 'make a case' idiom, using standard verbs instead.
気がつく (Ki ga tsuku)
Japanese focuses on the energy of the observer, Italian on the 'case' of the object.
انتبه (Intabih)
Arabic is more imperative and alert-focused.
注意到 (Zhùyì dào)
Chinese treats noticing as a completed action of the eyes/mind.
알아차리다 (Arachārida)
Korean emphasizes the 'grasping' of information.
Reparar / Notar
Portuguese uses a single verb while Italian uses a verb-noun collocation.
Easily Confused
Learners add the article 'il', which changes the meaning.
Never use 'il'. It's always 'fare caso'. 'Fare il caso' sounds like you are creating a legal case.
Literal translation from 'take notice'.
In Italian, you 'make' (fare) notice, you don't 'take' it.
FAQ (10)
Not exactly. While 'fare attenzione' can mean 'be careful', 'fare caso' is strictly about noticing or registering a detail.
Yes! 'Fare caso a qualcuno' means to notice someone or pay attention to them. 'Lui non mi fa mai caso' means 'He never notices me.'
It is always 'fatto caso'. Adding the article 'il' is a common mistake for English speakers.
'Notare' is more neutral and factual. 'Fare caso' is more idiomatic and often used in social contexts to dismiss or highlight details.
The most natural way is 'Non ci ho fatto caso'.
Yes, but 'prestare attenzione' is slightly more professional. 'Fare caso' is perfectly fine for internal team communications.
Yes, you can follow it with a clause: 'Fai caso che lui non mangia mai carne.' (Notice that he never eats meat.)
In writing, it is 'farci caso' (two words, with the 'e' of 'fare' dropped). In speech, it sounds like one.
Because the phrase is 'fare caso A qualcosa'. The particle 'ci' replaces 'a + something', whereas 'lo' replaces a direct object.
Yes: 'Ci farai caso quando lo vedrai.' (You will notice it when you see it.)
