Italian for English speakers Townhall · Lesson 3

Symptoms 2

Symptoms in Italian — Ho un raffreddore (I have a cold) — and respond to Riesci a respirare con il naso? (Can you breathe through your nose?).

Conversation

  1. Honey Honey

    Ho un brutto raffreddore.

    I have a bad cold.

  2. Yennifer Yennifer

    Riesci a respirare con il naso?

    Can you breathe through your nose?

  3. Honey Honey

    Sì, ma non dormo bene la notte.

    Yes, but I don't sleep well at home.

  4. Yennifer Yennifer

    Forse è meglio andare dal dottore.

    Maybe we need to go to the doctor.

    Tip: To describe a destination in English, we always use the preposition "to". I go to school. In Italian there are more options. When you see a person as a destination (I go to Mark's), the structure in Italian is "da + person" (vado da Marco).

Common questions

Quick answers about this lesson's grammar and vocabulary.

How do you say 'I have a cold' in Italian?

Ho un raffreddore. Or: sono raffreddato/a = 'I'm cold-stricken'. Ho l'influenza = 'I have the flu' (stronger).

Italian for respiratory symptoms?

Tosse (cough), naso chiuso (stuffy nose), mal di gola (sore throat), difficoltà a respirare (difficulty breathing).

Body words for nose/mouth?

Il naso (nose), la bocca (mouth), la gola (throat), i polmoni (lungs).

Next lesson in Townhall Bus tours →