So, this week I had intended to write a blog post about the Amazonia exhibition I went to a few weeks back, however, I have instead been cooped up with the flu and feeling sorry for myself. Thankfully, it is not Covid-19, which I checked with numerous tests much to my bank account’s dismay.
However, I have had to stumble my way through speaking about what was wrong with me to numerous people, and REALLY, I should have done my homework long ago on how to talk about your health and well-being in Italian. But better late than never.
Here is a short list of phrases you may find useful should you ever need to talk to someone about your health.
General phrases:
Come ti senti/Come si senta? – How are you feeling (informal/formal)
Sto bene – I am well
Non sto bene/Non mi sento bene – I am not well/not feeling well
Quali sono i suoi sintomi?/Chiedigli quali sono i sintomi?/che sintomi ha? – What are your symptoms?
I miei sintomi sono… – My symptoms are…
Deve riposare per qualche giorno/per due settimane – You must rest for several days/for two weeks
Descrivere i sintomi di il farmacista/ il dottore/il medico – Describe your symptoms to the pharmacist/doctor/doctor
Di quale trattamento avró bisogno? – What treatment will I need?
Prenda paracetamolo o ibuprofene – Take paracetamol and ibuprofen
Ho mal di testa – I have a headache
Ho mal di gola – I have a sore throat
Ho un naso che cola – I have a runny nose
Controlla se il mal di gola è accompagnato da rinorrea – Notice if the sore throat is accompanied by a runny nose
Ho la diarrhea – I have diarrhoea
Sto cominiciando ad avere un po’ di nausea – I am beginning to feel a bit nauseous
Ho un infezione del tratto urinario – I have a UTI
Ho un’infezione pulmonare – I have a chest infection
Ho un’infezione respiratoria – I have a respiratory infection
Ho un’infezione agli occhi – I have an eye infection
Ho un’infezione dell’orecchio/un’otite – I have an ear infection
Mi sento un po’ la nausea – I feel a little nauseous
Il dolore di stomaco – The stomach pain
Posso comprare paracetamolo/i testi Covid-19/antigenico qui? – Can I buy paracetamol/Covid-19/antigen tests here?
Body parts:
La testa – head
Il petto/Il torace – chest
Il collo – neck
Le spalle – shoulders : La spalla – shoulder
Le bracci – arms : Il braccio – arm
Le mani – hands : La mano – hand
Il dito – a finger: Le dita – fingers
Il stomaco – stomach
L’utero/Il grembo – womb
Le orecchie – the ears : Il orecchio – ear
Il naso – nose
Il viso – face
Gli occhi – eyes : L’occhio – eye
La bocca – mouth
I piedi – feet : il piede – foot
Le gambe – legs : La gamba – leg
Things you might want to ask:
Quanto verrà a costare? – How much will this cost?
Ora dove vado? – Where do I go now?
Vorrei fissare un appuntamento. – I would like to make an appointment
Posso ricevere la ricevuta via e-mail? – May I receive the receipt by email?
Tra quanto potrò tornare al lavoro? – How long until I can return to work?
Il virus è contagioso? – The virus is contagious?
I hope this short list of phrases serves you well as you fight off any illnesses that may occur on Italian soil.
I am currently just thanking my lucky stars that I am not Covid-19 positive and do NOT have to be that b*t*h who infected her whole class lol that would be so awfully embarrassing, let alone terrifying. Instead, I am sipping a tonne of hot honey and lemon tea (thé al limone e miele) and trying to catch up on the Italian lessons I have missed.
Alla prossima,
Ciara O’Síoráin (chi desidera diventare una bella donna figa come gli italiani)
Tesoro Irlandese: The Adventures of an 'Undercover' Irish Writer in Rome. 