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False Friends/🏥 Medical/risonanza magnetica
B2🏥 Medical

Italian word

risonanza magnetica

MRI scan (magnetic resonance imaging)

Looks like

magnetic resonance

magnetic resonance = the physics phenomenon

⚠️ The trap

Italian uses 'risonanza magnetica' (or just 'la risonanza') where English always says 'MRI'. The Italian phrase is the full descriptive term; English abbreviates to the initialism. In casual Italian speech, just saying 'la risonanza' is understood.

To say "magnetic resonance = the physics phenomenon" in Italian:

risonanza magnetica (correct — used as short for MRI)

"risonanza magnetica" in English means:

MRI scan (magnetic resonance imaging)

Example

"Mi hanno fatto una risonanza magnetica al ginocchio."

"I had an MRI scan on my knee."

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