I have difficulty swallowing.
in-GWIOT-ti-re — four syllables, stress on second. 'Inghiottire' = to swallow. The 'gh' is a hard 'g'.
Report dysphagia to a doctor. New difficulty swallowing requires prompt investigation, especially in adults over 50.
'Difficoltà a inghiottire' = difficulty swallowing ('disfagia' in medical Italian). 'Deglutizione' = swallowing (medical term). Distinguish: solid food only ('disfagia solida' — oesophageal), liquids too ('disfagia liquida' — neurological). Associated symptoms: food getting stuck, regurgitation, weight loss, pain on swallowing ('odinofagia').
Il cibo si blocca a metà strada.
Food gets stuck halfway down.
Sensation of food sticking — suggests oesophageal obstruction or stricture
Ho dolore quando inghiottisco.
I have pain when I swallow.
'Odinofagia' = painful swallowing — suggests inflammation, infection, or tumour
Faccio fatica a inghiottire anche i liquidi.
I have difficulty swallowing even liquids.
Liquid dysphagia — suggests neurological cause (stroke, motor neuron disease)
Oesophageal cancer ('tumore dell'esofago') presents with progressive dysphagia and is more common in heavy drinkers and smokers — both risk factors present in Italian middle-aged men. Italian gastroenterologists have access to advanced endoscopy ('endoscopia avanzata') including EUS (endoscopic ultrasound) and chromoendoscopy for diagnosis. Barrett's oesophagus — a pre-cancerous condition from chronic reflux — is monitored with regular endoscopy in Italian gastroenterology clinics.