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PhrasesAt the DoctorMi fa male qui.
A1

Mi fa male qui.

It hurts here.

Pronunciation

mi fa MA-le — 'male' rhymes with 'Italian' finale. The 'e' at the end is always pronounced.

When to use it

Point to the affected area while saying this. Works in any medical context — doctor, pharmacist, emergency room.

What it means

'Mi fa male' literally means 'it makes me pain/bad' — it is the standard Italian way to say something hurts. 'Mi' is the indirect object pronoun (to me). You can extend it: 'Mi fa male la testa' (my head hurts), 'Mi fa male la schiena' (my back hurts).

Variations

Ho dolore qui.

I have pain here.

Slightly more formal — 'dolore' is the noun for pain

Mi fa male la pancia.

My stomach hurts.

Specify the body part directly after 'mi fa male'

Il dolore è molto forte.

The pain is very strong.

Describes pain intensity — useful when asked to rate it

Mini Dialogue

— Dove le fa male? — Mi fa male qui, sul fianco destro. — Da quanto tempo? — Da ieri sera. Il dolore è abbastanza forte. — Capisco. Le faccio una visita.

— Where does it hurt? — It hurts here, on my right side. — Since when? — Since last night. The pain is quite strong. — I see. I will examine you.

Cultural Note

Italian doctors typically use the formal 'lei' form with patients. Expect the doctor to ask 'Le fa male?' (Does it hurt you?) rather than 'Ti fa male?' Always bring your 'tessera sanitaria' (health card) to public appointments — it is your national ID for healthcare.