I need an interpreter. I do not speak Italian well.
in-TER-pre-te — four syllables, stress on second. 'Italiano' — i-ta-LYA-no.
Request this at hospital reception, triage, or with any doctor. Large Italian hospitals have interpreter services.
'Ho bisogno di un interprete' = I need an interpreter. 'Non parlo bene italiano' = I do not speak Italian well. Italian hospitals in major cities often have 'mediatori linguistici' (language mediators). You can also use a translation app and ask 'Posso usare il telefono per tradurre?' Many Italian doctors in cities speak some English.
Parla inglese qualcuno qui?
Does anyone here speak English?
Quick informal request — especially in urban hospitals, some staff speak English
Posso usare un'app di traduzione?
Can I use a translation app?
Practical solution — most Italian medical staff accept this
Ho un familiare che parla italiano. Può venire con me?
I have a family member who speaks Italian. Can they come with me?
Family interpreter — commonly accepted in Italian hospitals
Major Italian hospitals, particularly those in tourist cities (Rome, Venice, Florence, Milan), often have designated English-speaking staff or 'uffici di accoglienza stranieri' (foreign patient offices). The Gemelli Hospital in Rome, for example, has an international patient department. EU citizens with an EHIC card receive the same treatment as Italian citizens. Non-EU citizens receive emergency care regardless of insurance status — Italian law does not allow refusal of emergency treatment.