Parti del Corpo Umano (Human Body Parts)
Learning body parts in Italian is essential for describing health issues and injuries. Here are the main body parts with their Italian names:
Human Body Diagram
Testa (Head)
Occhi - Eyes
Naso - Nose
Bocca - Mouth
Orecchie - Ears
Braccia (Arms)
Spalla - Shoulder
Gomito - Elbow
Polso - Wrist
Mano - Hand
Gambe (Legs)
Anca - Hip
Ginocchio - Knee
Caviglia - Ankle
Piede - Foot
Torso (Torso)
Petto - Chest
Schiena - Back
Pancia - Stomach
Fianchi - Hips
Organi Interni (Internal Organs)
Cuore - Heart
Polmoni - Lungs
Fegato - Liver
Stomaco - Stomach
Grammar Note: Most body parts are feminine (la testa, la mano) but some are masculine (il braccio, il piede). Use "mi fa male..." (my ... hurts) to describe pain.
Exercise 1: Body Parts Vocabulary
Name these body parts in Italian:
Sintomi e Malesseri (Symptoms and Ailments)
Italians use specific expressions to describe common health issues. Here's how to express what's wrong:
📌 Mal di Testa (Headache)
Expression: "Ho mal di testa"
Alternative: "Mi fa male la testa"
Severity: "Un forte mal di testa" (strong headache)
🌡️ Febbre (Fever)
Expression: "Ho la febbre"
Temperature: "Ho 38 di febbre" (I have 38°C fever)
Symptoms: "Sudori freddi" (cold sweats), "brividi" (chills)
🌀 Vertigini (Dizziness)
Expression: "Ho le vertigini"
Description: "Mi gira la testa" (my head is spinning)
Related: "Nausea" (nausea), "vomito" (vomiting)
🤢 Mal di Pancia (Stomachache)
Expression: "Ho mal di pancia"
Specific: "Mal di stomaco" (stomach pain)
Digestive: "Diarrea" (diarrhea), "stitichezza" (constipation)
🤧 Raffreddore (Cold)
Expression: "Sono raffreddato/a"
Symptoms: "Naso che cola" (runny nose), "starnuti" (sneezing)
Related: "Tosse" (cough), "mal di gola" (sore throat)
💊 Dolori Generali (General Pains)
Expression: "Mi fa male [body part]"
Examples: "Mi fa male la schiena" (my back hurts)
Intensity: "Un dolore acuto" (sharp pain), "sordo" (dull pain)
Describing Your Condition
- Non mi sento bene - I don't feel well
- Mi sento male - I feel sick
- Sono stanco/a - I'm tired
- Ho sonno - I'm sleepy
- Non ho appetito - I have no appetite
- Ho fame - I'm hungry
- Ho sete - I'm thirsty
- Mi sono slogato/a - I sprained [body part]
- Mi sono rotto/a - I broke [body part]
Exercise 2: Expressing Symptoms
How would you say these in Italian?
Ospedale e Documenti (Hospital and Documents)
Italian hospitals (ospedali) provide emergency care through Pronto Soccorso (Emergency Room). Here's what you need to know:
Pronto Soccorso (Emergency Room)
Triage System: Patients are prioritized by severity
Codici: Rosso (red) - critical, Giallo (yellow) - urgent, Verde (green) - minor, Bianco (white) - non-urgent
Waiting Times: Can be long for non-emergencies
Documents Needed
Tessera Sanitaria - Health Insurance Card
Carta d'Identità - ID Card
Codice Fiscale - Tax Code
Prescrizione Medica - Medical Prescription
Important Hospital Vocabulary
- Medico - Doctor
- Infermiere/a - Nurse
- Paziente - Patient
- Visita medica - Medical examination
- Ricetta - Prescription
- Esami del sangue - Blood tests
- Radiografia - X-ray
- Reparto - Department/Ward
- Stanza - Room
- Dimissioni - Discharge
Explaining Your Situation
At Triage: "Buongiorno, non mi sento bene. Ho [symptom] da [time period]"
Example: "Buongiorno, non mi sento bene. Ho la febbre da ieri sera e mal di testa forte."
Describing Pain: "Il dolore è acuto/sordo/pulsante" (The pain is sharp/dull/throbbing)
Location: "Mi fa male qui" (point to area) - "It hurts here"
Exercise 3: Hospital Vocabulary
Translate these medical terms:
Farmacia (Pharmacy)
Italian pharmacies (farmacie) are identified by a green cross. They provide medications, health advice, and basic medical supplies.
Pharmacy Services
- Medicinali con ricetta - Prescription drugs
- Medicinali da banco - Over-the-counter drugs
- Consulenza - Consultation/Advice
- Misurazione pressione - Blood pressure measurement
- Prodotti per l'igiene - Hygiene products
- Integratori - Supplements
- Prodotti per bambini - Baby products
Typical Pharmacy Conversation
Buongiorno, mi serve qualcosa per il mal di testa.
Buongiorno! Ha già provato qualcosa?
No, è la prima volta che ho questo dolore.
Le consiglio queste compresse. Prenda una compressa ogni 6 ore.
Grazie. Ha anche qualcosa per la gola irritata?
Certo, questi pastiglie sono molto efficaci. Ne sciolga una in bocca ogni 3-4 ore.
Perfetto, grazie mille. Quanto devo?
Sono 15 euro in totale. Si senta meglio!
Useful Pharmacy Phrases
Asking for something: "Mi serve qualcosa per [symptom]"
Describing symptoms: "Ho [symptom] da [time period]"
Asking about usage: "Come si usa?" (How do I use it?)
Side effects: "Ha effetti collaterali?" (Does it have side effects?)
Allergies: "Sono allergico/a a [substance]" (I'm allergic to...)
Exercise 4: Pharmacy Dialogue
Complete the pharmacy conversation:
Practice Exercises
Exercise 5: Body Parts Matching
Match the Italian body parts with their English translations:
Exercise 6: Multiple Choice
Choose the correct answer:
Exercise 7: Describe Your Symptoms
Describe your symptoms in Italian as if you were at a doctor's office:
Exercise 8: Pharmacy Scenario
Create a short dialogue between you and a pharmacist asking for medicine for a sore throat and headache: