At the Doctor: Describing Symptoms
When you visit a doctor in Italy, you need to know how to explain what hurts or how you feel. In Italian, we commonly use the verbs avere (to have) for aches and pains, or the phrase mi fa male (it hurts me).
Key Rules
- Use Ho (I have) + a noun for illnesses like a fever or a cold: Ho la febbre (I have a fever).
- Use Mi fa male + singular body part, or Mi fanno male + plural body part: Mi fa male la testa (My head hurts).
Common Examples
Ho mal di gola. – I have a sore throat.
Non mi sento bene. – I don't feel well.
Common Mistakes
Don't say "Sono malato" if you just have a specific pain; use "Mi fa male" instead!
Words
la febbre
fever
Ho la febbre alta.I have a high fever.
il mal di testa
headache
Ho un forte mal di testa.I have a bad headache.
la tosse
cough
Ho la tosse e il raffreddore.I have a cough and a cold.
il mal di gola
sore throat
Ho mal di gola oggi.I have a sore throat today.
mi fa male
it hurts me
Mi fa male la testa.My head hurts.
non mi sento bene
I don't feel well
Oggi non mi sento bene.Today I don't feel well.
il medico
doctor
Vado dal medico.I am going to the doctor.
la farmacia
pharmacy
Dov'è la farmacia?Where is the pharmacy?
Lessons are prepared with the help of AI.
Patterns
Ho ___
Expressing that you have a specific symptom or illness.
Ho la febbre.I have a fever.
Mi fa male ___
Stating that a specific body part hurts.
Mi fa male la testa.My head hurts.