You don’t need a medical degree to talk about health in Italian! In this A2-friendly guide, you’ll learn everyday body vocabulary and the most useful phrases to say where it hurts, ask for help at the pharmacy, and tell the doctor how you feel. We’ll keep it simple, practical, and immediately usable.

Le parti del corpo: le parole che usi ogni giorno

Here are common body parts you’ll mention in daily life. Pay attention to the article (il/la/i/le) and the plural.

Mi fanno male i .

Quick check

Great job! Now let’s learn two key structures to talk about pain.

Dire che qualcosa fa male: due strutture utili

Italian uses two very common patterns:

1. Ho mal di + parte del corpo

• Ho mal di testa. (I have a headache.)
• Ho mal di gola. (I have a sore throat.)

2. Mi fa/fanno male + parte del corpo

• Mi fa male la schiena. (My back hurts.)
• Mi fanno male le gambe. (My legs hurt.)

Use “fa” for singular body part and “fanno” for plural body parts.

Ho di testa.

Al medico o in farmacia: frasi utili

When you visit a doctor or talk to a pharmacist, these phrases help:

• Ho la febbre. (I have a fever.)
• Ho il raffreddore. (I have a cold.)
• Mi sento stanco/a. (I feel tired.)
• Mi gira la testa. (I feel dizzy.)
• Dove si trova la farmacia? (Where is the pharmacy?)
• Devo prendere questa medicina tre volte al giorno. (I have to take this medicine three times a day.)
• Sono allergico/a alla penicillina. (I’m allergic to penicillin.)

Sono mal di testa. → Ho mal di testa. Use “ho mal di…” to talk about pain in a specific body part.

Cultura: farmacia vs dottore

• In Italia, la farmacia (green cross sign) is the first stop for minor problems. Pharmacists can advise over-the-counter remedies.
• There is often a farmacia di turno (on-duty pharmacy) open outside normal hours.
• For serious issues, go to the pronto soccorso (ER). For non-urgent care, visit your medico di base (family doctor).
• Prescriptions may be required for certain medicines; follow the dosage carefully: “una compressa due volte al giorno” (one tablet twice a day).

Capire e scegliere la frase giusta

Let’s make sure you can pick the right structure in context.

Mini-pratica: sintomi comuni

Try filling in the missing word based on what you’ve learned.

Ho il .

Great! Now try to make your own sentences:

• Mi fa male + la/il + [parte] (Mi fa male la schiena.)
• Mi fanno male + le/i + [parte plurale] (Mi fanno male le gambe.)
• Ho mal di + [parte] (Ho mal di pancia.)
• Mi sento + [aggettivo] (Mi sento stanco/a.)

Riassunto

• Body vocabulary: testa, gola, pancia, schiena, mano/e, piede/i.
• Pain structures: Ho mal di… / Mi fa/fanno male…
• Reflexive feeling: mi sento, ti senti, si sente…
• At the pharmacy/doctor: explain symptoms clearly and ask polite questions.

Keep practicing with short, real sentences about how you feel today. Even two or three phrases are enough to communicate clearly!

Vai avanti!

Next time you don’t feel 100%, try a couple of these sentences in Italian. Little by little, you’ll build confidence—and your Italian will feel better too!