Italian Phrase
Finisco tardi al lavoro.
Meaning
Literally, ‘I finish late at work.’ It’s a casual way to say that you end your workday later than usual, often implying a busy schedule or overtime.
When to use
Use this sentence when talking about your daily routine, explaining why you’re tired, or answering a question about your work hours. It’s common in informal conversation among colleagues or friends.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Finiscotardiallavoro
Finire (present)
Finisco is the first‑person singular present of finire, meaning ‘I finish’ or ‘I end’.
Adverb tardi
tardi is an adverb meaning ‘late’; it follows the verb directly in informal speech.
al = a + il
al is the contraction of a (to/at) + il (the), forming ‘to the/at the’.
lavoro (noun)
lavoro means ‘work’ or ‘job’; here it refers to the workplace.
🗨In Conversation
Finisci tardi al lavoro?
Do you finish late at work?
Sì, spesso finisco tardi al lavoro, soprattutto quando ci sono scadenze.
Yes, I often finish late at work, especially when there are deadlines.
✕Common Mistakes
Finisco tardi al lavoro.
Learners sometimes treat tardi as an adjective (plural) instead of an adverb. It should stay unchanged as an adverb meaning ‘late’.
Finisco tardi alla lavoro.
Using the wrong article (e.g., *alla lavoro*) is incorrect because lavoro is masculine.
Finisco al lavoro tardi.
Placing the adverb after the prepositional phrase (Finisco al lavoro tardi) is grammatically possible but sounds less natural in everyday speech.
↔Alternatives
Lavoro fino a tardi.
I work until late.
Finisco il lavoro tardi.
I finish the work late.
Resto al lavoro fino a tardi.
I stay at work until late.
Cultural Tip
In Italy, many offices close around 6 p.m., but it’s not unusual to stay later, especially in larger cities or during project crunches. Mentioning that you finish late can be a polite way to explain why you’re unavailable for social plans, as Italians value both work and family time.