The Italian word for easy or simple is facile. As you’ve probably guessed, it shares the same origin as the English word facile (meaning simplistic). Both come from the Latin facilis meaning easy.
The singular facile is used to describe both masculine and feminine subjects and there is only one plural (facili).
- il libro facile (the easy book) = masculine, singular
- la canzone facile (the easy song) = feminine, singular
- i libri facili (the easy books) = masculine, plural
- le canzoni facili (the easy songs) = feminine, plural
Non è facile smettere di fumare!
It isn’t easy to stop smoking!
In order to form the construction easy to + verb in Italian, simply add the preposition da / a + the infinitive verb after facile. For example:
- facile da / a fare = easy to do/make
- facile da / a vedere = easy to see
- facile da / a capire = easy to understand
La trama di questo film è molto facile da seguire.
The plot of this film is very easy to follow.
Facile + the preposition a + the infinite verb can also translate as prone to. For instance, someone who is prone to tears is facile al pianto whereas someone prone to rage is facile all’ira.
Combined with the verb essere (to be) and followed by a subjective phrase, facile expresses a probability or possibility.
È facile che il brutto tempo continui fino a domani.
It is probable that the bad weather will continue until tomorrow.
Facile can also be used to express someone’s readiness to do something when used with the following structure: avere (to have) + noun + facile. Below are a few of my favourite examples amongst the many that exist:
- avere la parola facile = to never be stuck for words (lit: to always have words ready)
- avere la risata facile = to laugh at just about anything (lit: to always be ready with a laugh)
- avere il bicchiere facile = to be a heavy drinker (lit: to always have a glass ready)
- avere la pistola facile = to be quick on the trigger (lit: to always have the pistol ready)
The meaning of facile also changes depending on whether you are describing a man or a woman. Una donna facile is a promiscuous woman whereas un uomo facile is a man who is easygoing, amiable and easy to get along with. That’s sexism in language for you, folks!
To conclude, let’s take a quick look at some other words that are directly related to facile:
- facilmente = easily
- facilitare = to simplify, facilitate
- facilità = ease, facility
- facilone = someone who takes everything lightly, who behaves superficially
Idioms featuring ‘facile’
Facile come bere un bicchier d’acqua
Literal meaning: as easy as drinking a glass of water
English translation: very easy
Essere (una persona) di facili costumi
Literal meaning: to be (a person) of easy costumes
English translation: to not be serious, to be frivolous, to be of loose morals or ill-repute (when talking about women)
Heather Broster is a graduate with honours in linguistics from the University of Western Ontario. She is an aspiring polyglot, proficient in English and Italian, as well as Japanese, Welsh, and French to varying degrees of fluency. Originally from Toronto, Heather has resided in various countries, notably Italy for a period of six years. Her primary focus lies in the fields of language acquisition, education, and bilingual instruction.
