I can name parts of the body in Italian, tell the doctor what hurts and since when, understand the doctor's questions and answers, and ask at the pharmacy for cough or headache medicine.
Dal medico e in farmacia
At the doctor's and at the pharmacy
Three steps: say what hurts, answer the doctor's questions, and ask for medicine at the pharmacy.
“Mi fa male la gola”: one thing hurts; “Mi fanno male i denti”: several things hurt. The verb agrees with what hurts, as in mi piace / mi piacciono.
With body parts, use the article, not “my”: la testa, la schiena, le gambe. English “My head hurts” is Mi fa male la testa.
The set phrase “Ho mal di…”: mal di testa, mal di gola, mal di denti, with no article after di. English “I have a headache” is Ho mal di testa.
States take avere, with the article: “Ho la febbre”, “Ho la tosse”, “Ho il raffreddore”.
The doctor asks (recognize these and answer them): “Che cosa non va?” · “Da quando?” — “Da ieri”, “Da tre giorni” · “Non è niente di grave.” Da means “since” or “for”, with the verb in the present: Ho la tosse da tre giorni.
At the pharmacy, use whole set phrases: “Ha qualcosa per il mal di gola?”, “Vorrei una medicina per la tosse.”
Common mistakes:
• NOT “Mi fa male le gambe” → “Mi fanno male le gambe”
• NOT “Ho male di testa” → “Ho mal di testa”
• NOT “Ho una febbre” → “Ho la febbre” (English “a fever”)
• NOT “Mi fa male mia testa” → “Mi fa male la testa” (with body parts, the article)
Where it hurts
The verb agrees with what hurts.
| How many parts hurt | In Italian | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| one part | Oggi mi fa male la schiena. | My back hurts today. |
| several parts | Oggi mi fanno male le mani. | My hands hurt today. |
| several parts | Oggi mi fanno male le gambe. | My legs hurt today. |
The doctor asks — you answer
Lines to recognize and know how to answer.
| The doctor asks | You answer | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Che cosa non va? | Ho mal di gola da lunedì. | What's wrong? — I've had a sore throat since Monday. |
| Da quando? | Ho la tosse da lunedì. | Since when? — I've had a cough since Monday. |
| Ha qualcosa per il mal di gola? | Sì, ecco la medicina. | Do you have anything for a sore throat? — Yes, here's some medicine. |
Lesson notes
At the doctor's and at the pharmacy
Three steps: say what hurts, answer the doctor's questions, and ask for medicine at the pharmacy.
“Mi fa male la gola”: one thing hurts; “Mi fanno male i denti”: several things hurt. The verb agrees with what hurts, as in mi piace / mi piacciono.
With body parts, use the article, not “my”: la testa, la schiena, le gambe. English “My head hurts” is Mi fa male la testa.
The set phrase “Ho mal di…”: mal di testa, mal di gola, mal di denti, with no article after di. English “I have a headache” is Ho mal di testa.
States take avere, with the article: “Ho la febbre”, “Ho la tosse”, “Ho il raffreddore”.
The doctor asks (recognize these and answer them): “Che cosa non va?” · “Da quando?” — “Da ieri”, “Da tre giorni” · “Non è niente di grave.” Da means “since” or “for”, with the verb in the present: Ho la tosse da tre giorni.
At the pharmacy, use whole set phrases: “Ha qualcosa per il mal di gola?”, “Vorrei una medicina per la tosse.”
Common mistakes:
• NOT “Mi fa male le gambe” → “Mi fanno male le gambe”
• NOT “Ho male di testa” → “Ho mal di testa”
• NOT “Ho una febbre” → “Ho la febbre” (English “a fever”)
• NOT “Mi fa male mia testa” → “Mi fa male la testa” (with body parts, the article)