Phrase in 30 Seconds
Use 'fare finta' to describe pretending or acting as if something is true when it actually isn't.
- Means: To pretend or to make believe (literally 'to make a feint').
- Used in: Games, social white lies, or ignoring awkward situations.
- Don't confuse: Never use 'pretendere' to mean pretend; it means 'to demand'!
توضیح در سطح شما:
معنی
Acting as if something is true.
زمینه فرهنگی
'Fare finta di niente' is a sign of high social intelligence in Italy. It allows others to save face (fare bella figura) when they make a mistake. The concept of 'pretending' is a major theme in Italian neorealism and comedy, often used as a survival mechanism against poverty or war. Italian children use 'Facciamo finta che...' to start almost any imaginative game, similar to 'Let's play...' in English. In Italy, a 'finta' is highly admired in sports like soccer. A player who can 'fare una finta' to trick a defender is considered 'furbo' (clever).
The 'Pretendere' Trap
This is the #1 mistake for English speakers. Never use 'pretendere' for 'to pretend'.
Master the 'Niente'
Learn 'fare finta di niente' as a single block. It makes you sound much more native in social situations.
The 'Pretendere' Trap
This is the #1 mistake for English speakers. Never use 'pretendere' for 'to pretend'.
Master the 'Niente'
Learn 'fare finta di niente' as a single block. It makes you sound much more native in social situations.
Subjunctive vs Indicative
If you want to sound educated, use the subjunctive after 'che'. If you want to sound like a kid playing, use the indicative.
خودت رو بسنج
Fill in the blank with the correct form of 'fare finta'.
I bambini _______ di essere dei supereroi.
The subject is 'I bambini' (they), so we use the third person plural 'fanno'.
Which sentence is grammatically correct?
Choose the correct way to say 'I pretend to study'.
'Pretendo' is a false friend, and 'fare finta' needs 'di' before an infinitive.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Hai visto che Maria è arrabbiata? B: Sì, ma io _______.
'Fare finta di niente' is the standard idiom for 'acting like nothing is wrong'.
Match the situation to the sentence.
You see your teacher at the cinema and you don't want to talk to her.
Pretending not to see someone is the logical response to avoiding them.
🎉 امتیاز: /4
ابزارهای بصری یادگیری
بانک تمرین
5 تمرینهاI bambini _______ di essere dei supereroi.
The subject is 'I bambini' (they), so we use the third person plural 'fanno'.
Choose the correct way to say 'I pretend to study'.
'Pretendo' is a false friend, and 'fare finta' needs 'di' before an infinitive.
A: Hai visto che Maria è arrabbiata? B: Sì, ma io _______.
'Fare finta di niente' is the standard idiom for 'acting like nothing is wrong'.
You see your teacher at the cinema and you don't want to talk to her.
Pretending not to see someone is the logical response to avoiding them.
🎉 امتیاز: /5
سوالات متداول
10 سوالYes, but it's more about the 'act' than the words. 'Mentire' is specifically for telling a lie.
Use 'di' before a verb (infinitive). Use 'che' before a full sentence (clause).
Not necessarily. In Italy, 'fare finta di niente' is often considered polite to avoid embarrassing others.
'Fare finta' is common and spoken; 'fingere' is formal and written.
Use 'Facciamo finta che...' or 'Facciamo finta di...'.
Yes, for example: 'Non bisogna fare finta di avere competenze che non si hanno.'
If followed by another word, yes (di/che). If used alone as 'Non fare finta!', then no.
Yes, it means 'a feint' or 'a fake move'.
No, 'finta' is a fixed feminine noun in this expression.
Use 'avere': 'Ho fatto finta'.
عبارات مرتبط
fingere
synonymTo pretend (verb)
fare finta di niente
specialized formTo act as if nothing happened
simulare
similarTo simulate/fake
mentire
contrastTo lie
mettere in scena
builds onTo stage/orchestrate
کجا استفاده کنیم
Playing with children
Bambino: Facciamo finta che io sono il drago!
Genitore: Va bene, e io faccio finta di essere il cavaliere.
Avoiding an acquaintance
Giulia: C'è Paolo! Non voglio parlargli.
Maria: Fai finta di guardare le vetrine!
At a surprise party
Organizzatore: Quando entra, fate finta di niente.
Invitato: Ok, farò finta di essere appena arrivato.
Hiding a mistake at work
Collega 1: Hai rotto la stampante?
Collega 2: Zitto! Fai finta di niente e torna al tuo posto.
On a bad date
Io (al telefono): Mamma, chiamami tra 5 minuti.
Mamma: Perché?
Io: Devo fare finta di avere un'emergenza.
In a clothing store
Amica: Ti piace questo vestito? È orribile!
Tu: Sì, ma la commessa ci guarda. Fai finta di provarlo.
حفظ کنید
روش یادسپاری
Think of a fencer making a 'finta' (feint) to trick their opponent. You are 'making a finta' with your words.
تداعی تصویری
Imagine a child wearing a paper crown and a towel as a cape. They are 'making a finta' of being a king.
Rhyme
Se vuoi giocare e non sei un re, fai finta di esserlo insieme a me!
Story
Marco wants to avoid his boss at the supermarket. He picks up a box of pasta and 'fa finta' to read the ingredients very carefully. He stays there for 5 minutes until the boss leaves. He made a 'finta' to save his weekend.
In Other Languages
Similar to 'hacer ver' in Spanish or 'faire semblant' in French. All use the verb 'to make/do' combined with a word for 'appearance' or 'feint'.
شبکه واژگان
چالش
Go through your day and identify three times you 'fatto finta' (e.g., pretended to be busy, pretended to like a coffee). Say the Italian sentence in your head.
Review this phrase on day 1, 3, and 7. Focus on the difference between 'fare finta di' (verb) and 'fare finta che' (clause).
تلفظ
Standard 'a' sound, rolled 'r'.
Short 'i' sound, dental 't'.
طیف رسمیت
Simulare un'indisposizione. (Health/Work)
Fingere di stare male. (Health/Work)
Fare finta di essere malato. (Health/Work)
Darsi malato (specifically for work/school). (Health/Work)
From the Latin 'fingere' (to shape/mold), which became 'finta' in Italian to describe a deceptive movement.
نکته جالب
The word 'fiction' in English comes from the same Latin root 'fingere'!
نکات فرهنگی
'Fare finta di niente' is a sign of high social intelligence in Italy. It allows others to save face (fare bella figura) when they make a mistake.
“Se un ospite rompe un bicchiere, il padrone di casa fa finta di niente.”
The concept of 'pretending' is a major theme in Italian neorealism and comedy, often used as a survival mechanism against poverty or war.
“Nel film 'La Vita è Bella', il padre fa finta che il campo sia un gioco.”
Italian children use 'Facciamo finta che...' to start almost any imaginative game, similar to 'Let's play...' in English.
“Facciamo finta che io sono il dottore!”
In Italy, a 'finta' is highly admired in sports like soccer. A player who can 'fare una finta' to trick a defender is considered 'furbo' (clever).
“Il calciatore ha fatto una finta incredibile.”
شروعکنندههای مکالمه
Da piccolo, a cosa facevi finta di giocare?
Hai mai fatto finta di non vedere qualcuno per strada?
In quali situazioni è giusto fare finta di niente?
اشتباهات رایج
Io pretendo di essere stanco.
Faccio finta di essere stanco.
L1 Interference
Faccio finta dormire.
Faccio finta di dormire.
L1 Interference
Lui fa finta che io sono felice.
Lui fa finta che io sia felice.
L1 Interference
Ho fatto finta niente.
Ho fatto finta di niente.
L1 Interference
In Other Languages
Hacer ver / Fingir
Spanish often uses 'hacerse el...' (e.g., hacerse el loco) which Italian does less often.
Faire semblant
French 'semblant' is more common than the Italian noun 'finta' in isolation.
So tun als ob
German requires a specific word order (verb at the end) that Italian doesn't.
ふりをする (furi o suru)
Japanese grammar places the 'pretended action' before the phrase.
تظاهر (tazahara)
It is a single verb rather than a multi-word collocation like in Italian.
假装 (jiǎzhuāng)
The literal roots refer more to 'disguise' than 'feinting'.
척하다 (cheok-hada)
It is an auxiliary-like structure attached directly to verbs.
Fazer de conta
Portuguese uses 'conta' (account/story) instead of 'finta' (feint).
Spotted in the Real World
“Facciamo finta che sia tutto un gioco.”
Guido explains the concentration camp to his son as if it were a game to win a tank.
“E allora fai finta di niente...”
A song about social apathy and ignoring problems.
“Cominciai a fare finta di essere un altro.”
The protagonist decides to pretend to be a different person after being declared dead.
بهراحتی اشتباه گرفته میشود
It sounds like 'pretend' but means 'to demand'.
Remember: You 'pretend' with 'fare finta', but you 'demand' with 'pretendere'.
Learners might use the article 'una' when they mean the general act of pretending.
Use 'fare finta' for the state of pretending, and 'fare una finta' for a specific physical move (like in sports).
سوالات متداول (10)
Yes, but it's more about the 'act' than the words. 'Mentire' is specifically for telling a lie.
usage contextsUse 'di' before a verb (infinitive). Use 'che' before a full sentence (clause).
grammar mechanicsNot necessarily. In Italy, 'fare finta di niente' is often considered polite to avoid embarrassing others.
cultural usage'Fare finta' is common and spoken; 'fingere' is formal and written.
comparisonsUse 'Facciamo finta che...' or 'Facciamo finta di...'.
practical tipsYes, for example: 'Non bisogna fare finta di avere competenze che non si hanno.'
usage contextsIf followed by another word, yes (di/che). If used alone as 'Non fare finta!', then no.
grammar mechanicsYes, it means 'a feint' or 'a fake move'.
basic understandingNo, 'finta' is a fixed feminine noun in this expression.
common mistakesUse 'avere': 'Ho fatto finta'.
grammar mechanics
