Italian Phrase
Cosa leggi nei fine settimana?
Meaning
Literally “What do you read on weekends?” The speaker is asking the listener about their reading habits during the weekend, whether it’s books, newspapers, magazines, or anything else.
When to use
Use this question when you want to start a casual conversation about leisure activities, especially to discover what kind of material a friend or colleague enjoys reading in their free time.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Cosaleggineifinesettimana?
Cosa
Interrogative pronoun meaning “what”. It can be placed at the beginning of a question.
leggi
Second‑person singular present of the verb *leggere* (to read). No subject pronoun is needed because the verb ending -i already indicates “you”.
nei
Contraction of the preposition *in* + the plural definite article *i*. It means “in the” or “on the”.
fine settimana
A compound noun meaning “weekend”. In the plural it becomes *i fine settimana*; with *nei* it refers to “on weekends”.
🗨In Conversation
Cosa leggi nei fine settimana?
What do you read on weekends?
Di solito leggo romanzi gialli, ma a volte mi concedo anche un po’ di giornale.
I usually read mystery novels, but sometimes I treat myself to a bit of newspaper.
✕Common Mistakes
Cosa leggi nel fine settimana?
The article must agree in number; *nei* is correct for plural weekends, but beginners sometimes forget the plural and say *nel fine settimana* when they mean “on weekends”.
Cosa tu leggi nei fine settimana?
If you want to emphasize the subject, you can add *tu* before the verb, but using *leggi* alone is standard. Adding *tu* incorrectly as *tu leggi* in a formal written question can sound redundant.
↔Alternatives
Che cosa leggi durante il fine settimana?
What do you read during the weekend?
Quali libri leggi nei fine settimana?
Which books do you read on weekends?
Ti piace leggere nei fine settimana?
Do you like to read on weekends?
Cultural Tip
In Italy, many people spend part of their weekend reading the *corriere della sera* or a favorite novel in a café. Asking about reading habits can lead to recommendations of local authors, popular series, or even the classic Italian comic *Diabolik*.