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False Friends/🏥 Medical/terapia intensiva
B2🏥 Medical

Italian word

terapia intensiva

intensive care (ICU)

Looks like

intensive therapy

intensive care (ICU) — same concept, different phrasing

⚠️ The trap

Italian says 'terapia intensiva' where English says 'intensive care'. 'Therapy' in English doesn't usually combine with 'intensive' to mean ICU. This is a structural false friend — same concept, different word choice.

To say "intensive care (ICU) — same concept, different phrasing" in Italian:

terapia intensiva (correct)

"terapia intensiva" in English means:

intensive care (ICU)

Example

"Il paziente è ricoverato in terapia intensiva."

"The patient is admitted to the intensive care unit."

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