faccenda

Faccenda is an Italian noun that denotes a matter, affair, business, task, or chore. In everyday use, it refers to a specific issue to be addressed or a set of tasks to complete, as in expressions like una faccenda delicata (a delicate matter) or le faccende domestiche (the domestic chores). The term can describe both personal and administrative concerns.

Etymology and usage. The word faccenda derives from Italian roots linked to action or doing, with the suffix -enda forming a nominal sense of an action or matter to be dealt with. In Italian, faccende is the common plural, used to indicate multiple tasks or affairs. The word is widespread in Italian prose and speech and remains a general-purpose term for issues, duties, or responsibilities one must handle.

In English, faccenda is a rare loanword and tends to appear in literary or historical contexts, often to evoke an archaic or foreign flavor. When encountered in English, it generally means a matter or affair to be attended to, similar in sense to the Italian usage but less common in contemporary prose.

Surname and other uses. Faccenda also exists as a surname of Italian origin. As a proper noun, it may appear in genealogical records, contemporary name registries, or as a family name in Italian-speaking regions.

See also. Italian vocabulary for daily life; lists of Italian nouns with -enda suffix; surnames of Italian origin.