Italian for English speakers Townhall · Lesson 1

Feeling unwell

Sympathize about illness in Italian — Che faccia hai! (What a face you have!) — and respond Non mi sento bene.

Conversation

  1. Yennifer Yennifer

    Che faccia hai!

    What a face you have!

  2. Honey Honey

    Sì, non sto molto bene

    Yeah, I don't feel well

  3. Yennifer Yennifer

    Che hai?

    What's the matter?

    Tip: Literally "What you have?"

  4. Honey Honey

    Ho un po' di male di testa

    I have a little headache

    Tip: to have + mal di + body part = body part hurts

Common questions

Quick answers about this lesson's grammar and vocabulary.

How do you say 'I don't feel well' in Italian?

Non mi sento bene. Reflexive verb sentirsi: mi sento, ti senti, si sente. Mi sento male = I feel bad/sick.

Common Italian illness phrases?

Sono malato/a (I'm sick), Ho la febbre (I have a fever), Mi fa male... (... hurts), Ho l'influenza (I have the flu).

What does che faccia hai mean?

Literally 'what a face you have' — colloquial way to say 'you look awful'. Used among friends, suggests concern.

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