Italian Phrase
Hai lavato i piatti?
Meaning
Literally, “Have you washed the dishes?” It is used to ask whether someone has already completed the chore of washing the dishes after a meal.
When to use
Use this informal question in a household setting, typically after dinner or lunch, when you want to confirm if the dishes are clean or to remind someone to do the task.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Hailavatoipiatti?
Hai (auxiliary)
‘Hai’ is the second‑person singular present of the auxiliary verb ‘avere’, used to form the passato prossimo.
lavato (past participle)
‘lavato’ is the past participle of ‘lavare’ (to wash). With ‘avere’ it agrees with the direct object only when that object precedes the verb, which is not the case here.
i (definite article)
‘i’ is the masculine plural definite article, used before ‘piatti’.
piatti (noun)
‘piatti’ is the plural of ‘piatto’, meaning ‘plate’ or ‘dish’.
Question formation
In spoken Italian the intonation rises at the end; in writing a question mark is added after the clause.
🗨In Conversation
Hai lavato i piatti?
Did you wash the dishes?
Sì, li ho già messi ad asciugare.
Yes, I’ve already put them out to dry.
✕Common Mistakes
Sei lavato i piatti?
‘Essere’ is not the correct auxiliary for ‘lavare’; use ‘avere’.
Hai lavare i piatti?
After ‘hai’ you need the past participle, not the infinitive.
Hai lavato il piatto?
‘Piatti’ is plural because you’re referring to multiple dishes.
↔Alternatives
Hai già lavato i piatti?
Have you already washed the dishes?
Hai finito di lavare i piatti?
Did you finish washing the dishes?
Hai pulito i piatti?
Did you clean the dishes?
Cultural Tip
In many Italian families washing dishes is a shared responsibility. Asking “Hai lavato i piatti?” is informal; with a group you might say “Avete lavato i piatti?” or use a softer “Per favore, potresti lavare i piatti?”. Also, Italians often prefer the present perfect (passato prossimo) for recent actions, which is why ‘hai lavato’ sounds natural here.