Italian Phrase
Hai finito i compiti?
Meaning
Literally, 'Have you finished the homework?'. It asks whether the listener has completed the set of assignments that were given, usually by a teacher. The phrase can convey curiosity, a gentle reminder, or a check before moving on to another activity.
When to use
Use this informal question with friends, classmates, siblings, or any person you address with 'tu'. It’s common after school, during study sessions, or when a parent checks a child’s progress. For a formal setting (e.g., speaking to a teacher or an adult you address with 'Lei'), switch to 'Ha finito i compiti?'.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Haifinitoicompiti?
Present of avere as auxiliary
In the present perfect (passato prossimo), Italian uses the present tense of 'avere' (or 'essere') plus the past participle.
Past participle agreement
With 'avere' the past participle does NOT agree with the subject; 'finito' stays masculine singular regardless of 'compiti' being plural.
Definite article plural
'i' is the masculine plural definite article, used here because 'compiti' (homework assignments) is masculine plural.
Forming yes‑no questions
Italian often forms a question simply by raising intonation; no word order change is required.
🗨In Conversation
Hai finito i compiti?
Did you finish the homework?
Sì, li ho finiti poco fa. Tu?
Yes, I finished them a little while ago. And you?
✕Common Mistakes
Sei finito i compiti?
Use 'avere' (hai) as the auxiliary for 'finire', not 'essere' (sei).
Hai finito il compiti?
The article must agree in number and gender: 'i compiti' (plural masculine).
Hai finito i compito?
Singular 'compito' would refer to a single assignment; the usual phrase talks about the whole set.
↔Alternatives
Hai completato i compiti?
Did you complete the homework?
Hai già finito i compiti?
Have you already finished the homework?
Hai finito i compiti per oggi?
Did you finish today’s homework?
Hai finito i compiti, vero?
You’ve finished the homework, right?
Cultural Tip
In Italy, 'compiti' refers to the whole set of assignments given by a teacher, not just a single task. The informal form 'Hai finito i compiti?' is perfectly natural among peers, but remember to switch to the formal 'Ha finito i compiti?' when speaking to teachers, older relatives, or anyone you address with 'Lei'. Also, Italians often ask this question right after school to see if a child can go out to play.