Devo fare le faccende domestiche.

I need to do the household chores.

Pronunciation

'Faccende' — fac-CHEN-de. Stress on the second syllable. 'Domestiche' — do-MES-ti-che, stress on the second.

When to use it

Use with very close friends when housework genuinely takes priority. This is an honest, humble reason — Italians will understand but may tease you.

What it means

'Faccende domestiche' (household chores) is the formal Italian phrase covering cleaning, washing, and general housekeeping. Using 'devo' (must) signals it's a genuine obligation, not just laziness.

Variations

Devo fare le pulizie.

I need to do the cleaning.

'Pulizie' (cleaning jobs) — more specific, implies thorough house cleaning

Ho la casa sottosopra.

The house is upside down.

Idiomatic — 'sottosopra' (upside down) implies a messy, chaotic state

Devo fare il bucato.

I need to do the laundry.

'Bucato' is the Italian for laundry/washing — a specific domestic task

Mini Dialogue

— Vieni a bere qualcosa? — Non posso, devo fare le faccende domestiche. La casa è un disastro. — Vieni dopo allora! — Dipende da quanto ci metto. Ti scrivo dopo.

— Are you coming for a drink? — I can't, I need to do the household chores. The house is a disaster. — Come later then! — Depends how long it takes me. I'll message you later.

Cultural Note

The standard of home cleanliness in Italian culture is high. 'Fare le pulizie di casa' is taken seriously, and an untidy home is a source of genuine personal anxiety for many Italians, especially before receiving visitors.

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